UDIES 



MINOR PROPHETS 



■H 




mm 






mm 



m 



mi 



■■■'■■ ■■•■■■■ :'/■■' 
.•■•■•■■.■■:■,•..■ 



•' :: v: ' ;;: ' ; 

mm 

111 



Inductive Studies 



TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 



WILBERT W. WHITE. 



I 



wc y 



/ 



CHICAGO : 

Young Men's Era Publishing Company, 
1892. 



3i S 



Copyright 1892. 

Youngr Men's Era Publishing Company. 

Chicago. 



CONTENTS. 



Introductory Statement , ... 4 

Caution 6 

Scheme for Book Study 7 

Scheme for Chapter Study 9 

Study by Torres 12 

Sample Chapter Study 13 

Naming Chapters 15 

Charts IT 

Suggestions to Leaders op Groups for Study 25 

Helps to theJStudy of the Minor Prophets 27 

Hosea 29 

1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Facts noted in the chapters. 

3. Names of the chapters. 

4. Topics for study. 

5. Suggestions. 

6. Questions. 

Joel (treated under same headings as Hosea) 42 

Amos (treated under same headings as Hosea) 48 

Obadiah (treated under same headings as Hosea) ... 59 

Jonah (treated under same headings as Hosea) 62 

Micah (treated under same headings as Hosea) 67 

Nahum (treated under same headings as Hosea) 74 

Habakkuk. (treated under same headings as Hosea) 79 

Zephaniah (treated under same headings as Hosea) S4 

Haggai (treated under same headings as Hosea) B8 

Zechariah (treated under same headings as Hosea) 

Malachi (treated under same headings.as Hosea)p. 107 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



This little book is the outcome of two ten 
day courses of Bible study at the Lake Geneva 
(Wisconsin) College Student Conferences of 
the summer of 1892. One hundred and six 
young men participated in the first course, 
which was followed immediately by the second, 
in which sixty-seven young women were en- 
rolled. 

The plan of study was as follows: To each 
member of the class was assigned a chapter to 
be studied. The results were reported in writ- 
ten form according to the scheme for chapter 
study, sample of which may be found on page 
13. In addition to the study of a chapter by 
each to be reported before the class, one or 
more topics (vid. p. — ff.) were assigned each 
member. 

The studentswere advisedto use their Bibles 
chiefly, although various commentaries and 
histories were placed within the reach of all. 
Numerous diagrams and charts were used for 
the purpose of gaining a clearer view of the 
historic situation of each prophet studied. * 

It was found impossible to cover the ground 
in the time allotted. Before the close of the 

* Samples of charts are given on p. 19 ff. 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 

young men's conference the idea of gathering 
the results into book form was suggested. 
After some consideration this was finally de- 
cided upon, primarily for the purpose of put- 
ting into the possession of each student in the 
conferences the results of the work of all. From 
the written reports of the students the reports 
on chapters following have been wrought. 

A glance at the scheme for chapter study, 
sample of which appears on page 13, will show 
that only one feature of the work done at the 
conference is here introduced, viz: the facts 
of interest which were noted in the reading and 
study of the chapters. Among the objects of 
this publication are the following: 

1. To assist students of the Bible in reading 
with profit these twelve books, thought by 
many to be void of interest. 

2. To stimulate to further study those who 
already have given some attention to these 
books. 

3. To be of assistance to groups of persons 
who may wish to pursue a study of the Minor 
Prophets. 



CAUTION. 

Those who desire to profit most by the use 
of the pages following, will, as soon as they 
understand the mode of procedure, undertake 
to read and study each book and chapter and 
to record the results of their own study before 
consulting the results here recorded. For ex- 
ample: After a somewhat careful reading of 
Joel, and noting of the striking features of the 
book, let the student compare his results with 
those found in this book. He should follow 
the same method in the study of each chapter. 
To study one of the twelve Minor Prophetic 
books in this way will be of more real value 
than to study them all, having in the case of 
each book and chapter first consulted the re- 
sult of the study of another. This latter is 
really not study at all. 



SCHEME FOR BOOK STUDY. * 



I. Preliminary. i 

1. Purchase a good note-book which you 
will devote entirely to that book of the Bible 
which you propose to study. The most desir- 
able size is that measuring about nine and a 
half inches, by seven and a half inches. For a 
small booklikeoneofthe Minor Prophets, anote- 
book containing fifty to hundred pages will be 
large enough. For a large book like Jeremiah 
a note-book containing one hundred and fifty 
to two hundred and fifty pages should be ob- 
tained. For several books like Obadiah or 
Haggai, the same note-book properly indexed 
will suffice. For the ordinary student a book 
of two hundred pages will be sufficient for the 
twelve Minor Prophets. 

2. Secure a copy of the Revised Bible which 
you will not hesitate to mark in any way which 
will help you to fix a fact in mind. The Min- 
ion 8 vo. is perhaps the best size. 

77. Reading the book. 

I. Read the book through thoughtfully 
alone (aloud if possible) without interruption. 
It will require little more than half an hour 

* This is meant to be suggestive merely. 



O THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

to read the book of Hosea through. It is next 
to the largest of the Miner Prophets. 

2. After reading the book through as sug- 
gested under I above, record your impression 
concerning the book as a whole. 

3. If possible read the book through several 
times with pen in hand. Check striking pas- 
sages, also expressions not understood. It 
would be best perhaps to use a pencil in this 
work so that when the difficulty is removed the 
mark may be erased. Connect by straight 
lines parallel expressions found on the same 
page. Note in the margin any desired refer- 
ence. On a slip of paper make any note which 
may be too extended for insertion on the mar- 
gin of the Bible. 

4. After this general reading of the book 
by which it is supposed you will secure a some- 
what comprehensive grasp of the situation and 
line of thought, you will be ready for a more 
detailed examination of the material. A 
method for this is suggested in the next 
chapter. 



SCHEME FOR CHAPTER STUDY. 



1. Assuming that you have in hand a suita- 
ble note-book which has been assigned to the 
book of Hosea, you will first of all decide 
where your index shall be. Assign it either to 
the blank unnumbered page in the front of the 
book or to the last numbered page at the back 
of the book. Never use a note-book with pages 
unnumbered. At the top of the page assigned 
to index, write the word, INDEX. 

2. As the book of Hosea contains fourteen 
chapters, it will be proper to reserve the first 
fourteen pages for these, assigning the first 
page to the first chapter, the second page to 
the second chapter, etc. 

3. It might be well to reserve pages 15- 
28 (an extra page for each chapter) for special 
notes on particular verses, and as a place for 
indexing any future accumulation of material 
on the chapters, e. g. A sermon is heard on 
Hosea i, 7, the outline of which you wish to 
preserve. On page 15 of your note-book 
in the space assigned to vs. 7 of chapter 
i, you can note on what page of the book 
or in what place the outline as preserved fay you 
may be found. The proper place for such an 
outline would be on one of the pages ( follow- 



10 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

ing the twenty-eighth) of this same note-book 
assigned to Hosea. 

4. The pages following the twenty-eighth (so 
many as may be necessary) should be assigned 
to topics such as the following: (1) Authorship, 
(2) Date, (3) Historical situation, (4) Lan- 
guage and style of composition, (5) Religious 
condition of the times, (6) Character of the 
prophet, (7) The Messianic element in the 
book, (8) Outline, (9) Special features of the 
book, (10) Lessons from the book, (11) Helps, 
(a) examined, (b) to be examined. It might 
be well also to assign a page to each of the 
prominent persons mentioned in the book. 
The book may be studied from a theological 
standpoint using such topics as (1) God, (2) 
Man, (3) Sin, (4) Punishment, etc. To each 
one of these topics may be assigned space ac- 
cording to the judgment of the student. 

5. Turning now to page 1 of your note- 
book (this being the page assigned to Chapter 
i , on the first line on the margin* at the left 
write, Name;| on the second line just below 
write, Text; beneath this word write, Literary 
Characteristics. Let the headings found be- 
low appear on the margin of each chapter 
page. Space each page as your judgment may 
dictate. The greatest amount of space will be 
required for 4 and 5; 1, 2, and 3 will not as a 
rule require more than one line each. 

1. Name. (This should be of your own 

* Kuy a note-book with a marginal line if possible. If your note- 
book does not contain such a line you should draw one. 

t For suggestions concerning naming chapters see page 16. 



SCHEME FOR CHAPTER STUDY. 11 

choosing, suggested by your own study and 
should be suggestive to you of the contents of 
the chapter. (On naming the chapters see page 

is-) 

2. Text. (The text chosen should be 
marked in a special way in your Bible. It 
should be the one which you would choose 
were you allowed to retain but one verse from 
the chapter as your possession. 

3. Literary Characteristics. ( Here write 
observations concerning the chapter as a piece 
of literature. Note two or three of the most 
striking figures of speech.) 

4. Facts. (Five facts relating to the chap- 
ter should be here noted and numbered on the 
right side of the marginal line.) 

5. Condensation. (Here write the thought 
of the chapter in your own language in the 
fewest words possible.) 

6. Difficulties. (Let space be reserved 
at the right for answers.) 

7. Remarks. (Here note anything about 
the chapter which may not properly belong 
under any of the other heads.) 

Remark. The bracketed words above are ex- 
planatory and of course should not appear in 
your note-book. 



12 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



STUDY BY TOPICS. 



While studying the chapters, various topics 
such as suggested under Scheme for Chapter 
Study, p. 10, may be kept in mind and the mate- 
rial classified as you proceed. It might be well 
to have sheets of paper for the first rough 
collection of material which you make. This 
may be revised and transferred to the note 
book. The aim should be (i) to collect all the 
material which a book furnishes on any given 
topic, and (2) to arrange the material. But as 
far as possible arrange material while collect- 
ing it. 

If you prefer to postpone the collection of 
material on topics until after your study of the 
book by chapters, you can then gather and 
classify on all the topics at once, or you can go 
through the book with one topic in mind each 
time. Determine for yourself which method 
you will follow. As a rule it is best to note a 
fact when it comes to you. In your chapter 
study, topics will suggest themselves. For 
each a sheet of paper may be taken and on it 
the material for each collected. 



SAMPLE CHAPTER STUDY. 



Amos I. 



Name. 

The Foreign Chapter. (Contrast with this the last 
chapter of the book which may be called the Davidic 
chapter.) 

Text. V. 2. 

"The Lord shall roar from Zion and utter His 
voice from Jerusalem." 

Literary Characteristics. 

This chapter is highly figurative. Note the fol- 
lowing: 

"The Lord shall roar," v. 2; "threshing," v. 3; 
"fire, "vs. 4, 7, 10, 12, 14. 

Striking Facts. 

1. The statement in v. i, that the vision of A. was 
concerning Israel while the entire chapter is taken 
up with prophecies against foreign nations. 

2. The first part of v. 2, which is the same as 
Joel iii 16, and is apparently used by A. as a text. 
N. B. Mention of roaring from Zion by A. who 
from the South. 

3. The recurrence of the rhetorical expression, 
"Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions and 
for four." It is found five times in the chapter. 

4. The specification of a particular sin in each of 
the charges against the nations. 

5. The recurrence of the expressions (each being 



14 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



found five times): "send a fire ," and % Ht shall devoiTr 
the palaces thereof" 

Condensation. 

The words of Amos from the Lord concerning 
Israel: The Lord will appear and judge nations. 

O Israel, Syria, your enemy, will be destroyed for 
her sins. 

O Israel, Philistia, your enemy, will be destroyed 
for her sins. 

O Israel, Tyre, your enemy, will be destroyed for 
her sins 

O Israel, Edom, your enemy, will be destroyed 
for her sins. 

O Israel, Ammon, your enemy, will be destroyed 
for her sins. 

Difficulties. 

i. The meaning of v. 2. 

2. Is the expression, "For three transgressions, 
yea for four," literal or figurative? 

3. What is the reference in, 'brotherly cov- 
enant," v. 9? 

Remarks. 

1. The expression, "I will not turn away the 
punishment thereof" suggests that punishment 
is the legitimate result of sin. 

2. God is represented in this chapter as having 
control of nations. 

4. There is an apparent climax in the order. 
Three nations not related by blood to Israel are first 
mentioned, then two which were related are men- 
tioned. 



NAMING CHAPTERS. * 



Some may regard this as novel and possibly 
puerile, but it. has been very helpful to some 
students in the way of securing a grasp of the 
content of the chapters. The process through 
which one passes in securing a name is the 
thing of greatest value. One, in order to con- 
clude upon a satisfactory name, must examine 
the chapter with considerable care. The aim 
should be to secure a name as concrete and 
specific as possible. There is objection to such 
names as, " The Judgment Chapter," "The 
Hopeless Chapter," and the like, inasmuch as 
they are too general and may be applied with 
equal appropriateness to many chapters. 
The object of a name should be kept clearly in 
mind. It is to enable one by the name to recall 
the content of the chapter. Oftentimes the 
name of a person or place or animal will sug- 
gest the verse in which it is found, which will 
suggest the paragraph, which in time will sug- 
gest the chapter, e. g. Gomer, Hosea i. ; 

* There has lately fallen into the hands of the writer a leaflet by 
the noted e^angelis* C H. Yatman entitled, "Chapters of Pure 
Gold." On it he gives names of one hundred or more chapters 
selected from the Bit^e as a whole, e. g. The Backsliders Chap- 
ter. Jer. iii ; Wife's Chapter, Prov. xxxi ; Shepherds Chapter, 
John x., etc. This leaflet may be secured by addressing Young 
Men's Era Publishing Co., 85 Fifth Ave., Chicago. 



16 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

Jacob, Hosea xii.; Gourd, Jonah iv.; Lion, 
Amos iii. 

Observe Caution page 6, in naming of chap- 
ters. 

As an illustration of the above suggestions, 
the names by which the writer is enabled to re- 
call the order and substance of the twelve 
chapters of Daniel are given as follows: 

I. The Pulse chapter. 

II. The Colossus chapter. 

III. The Image chapter. 

IV. The Tree chapter. 

V. The Feast chapter 

VI. The Den chapter. 

VII. The Four Beasts chapter. 

VIII. The Two Beasts chapter. 

IX. The Prayer chapter. 

X. The Apocalypse chapter. 

XI. The Antiochus Epiphanes chapter. 

XII. The Resurrection chapter. 



CHARTS. 



Below will be found samples of charts used 
at the Lake Geneva Conferences. Persons who 
were present will observe that a modified plan 
has been introduced in some of the diagrams. 
The old charts now in the hands of the students 
may be easily adapted to the new plan. It ap- 
pears to the writer at present that no scheme bet- 
ter than the semi-ellipse, with the perpendicular 
from the middle point of the diameter repre- 
senting the time of Christ, can be used for gain- 
ing a general view of history by comparison of 
dates. Each student should select a certain 
size of paper on which to make charts, and 
keeping a supply near him, should often seek 
to aid the mind through the eye in securing a 
grasp of the relations of times and events. A 
good size of paper for chart making is that se- 
cured by cutting a half sheet of note-paper 
twice transversely, making three slips of equal 
size. 

For those who wish as teachers to prepare 
charts for their classes it is suggested that 
large sheets of paper fastened together with 
narrow strips at one edge be used. Black cray- 
on may be secured at any art supply store and 



18 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



paper may be found at any printing office. 
Common wrapping sheets such as are used in 
a clothing store will serve the purpose. It is 
urged that students and teachers of the Bible 
seek to aid the mind by a legitimate appeal to 
the eye. 



SAMPLE CHARTS. 



CHART I. 



' Abraham and MibHAriov . 



An £ MCA 4Htl iMfitlAAATfdfC^ 



2000 * c. 



CHART II. 




CHARTS. 



19 



CHART III. 









/ X* 


f 


\ 



CHART IV. 




CHART V. 




20 



THE M1NOK PROPHETS. 



CHART VI. 




' S °oU c 



10M 



CHART VII. 



*#£" 




CHARTS. 



21 



CHART VIII. 













" 








_.__- 


^ 


S 


















^''"' 




\c 


§ 




^-'"^ 


^ 

^^y. 






| 


^ 






***. 


\* 




.-^£5 


^^^ 


^^ 


N3. 




dlTAft 













CHART IX. 







22 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



CHART X. 




CHART XI. 




CHART XII. 





97S 


PfiOPrt HOi£ A 






JttoaoAm 


ftOiHIA 




Saul 


HinoaoAM 


H£Z(#/AH 


Zt£>£M/AH 


togs 




\ 


' 



721 
4s$y/t/AN C apt/ wry 



V 
588 
dAByLOH'AN (APnv/rfi 



CHAETS. 



23 



97S 



CHART XIII. 



S8b 

70 y/fS. (APT/VtTy 



6ot> 



536 



CHART XIV. 



/6/pr 




mnw 




24 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



CHART XVI. 



\\ 



Oaz^ * 




QkMAUt/S 



(See Amos i., and ii.) 



SUGGESTIONS TO LEADERS OF 
GROUPS. 



1. Select one of the books on which to be- 
gin study. Perhaps Amos would be best, all 
things considered. 

2, Have a preliminary meeting and 
a. Call attention to the following: 

(i) The schemes for book and chapter study. 

(2) Caution. 

(3) Charts. 

(4) Helps. 

b. Ask each member to read the book 
through as suggested in Scheme for Book Study. 

c. Assign to each member a chapter for 
study on which he will be asked to report 
according to Scheme for Chapter Study. 
Vid. Sample Chapter Report. (An ideal group 
would have nine members with a leader. In the 
study of Amos each member of such a group 
would have one chapter.) 

d. Assign to each member a topic for study. 
(See topics on Amos, page 55.) 

e. Announce plan for next meeting. It 
might be well to have part of the hour devoted 
to hearing chapter reports, and part to hearing 
reports on topics. Insist on reports being 
written, brief, and to the point. You will likely 



26 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

wish to spend about a month on the book of 
Amos. 

3. General suggestions. 

a. Begin and close meetings on time. Do 
not on any account permit yourself to disregard 
this suggestion. 

Avoid much discussion. Be occupied 
with facts. Assign difficulties to members of 
the class for further study. 

c. Each group should have a secretary who 
should keep the roll, note assignments of work, 
etc. 

d. Have a definite plan for each meeting, and 
endeavor to work according to such plan. 

e. Tf you have not a full group and desire 
to secure one, ask your members each to invite 
another to the first regular meeting. In this 
way you may induce some to join you. 

f. Remember that the interest and profit of 
the first meeting, as well as of succeeding 
ones, will depend very largely upon your effort. 
" My observation has been that leaders make 
or break the classes," says one of the college 
secretaries. 

g. Give yourself to a season of special pray- 
er for assistance. Pray as though all depended 
on God; work as though all depended on your- 
self. 



HELPS IN THE STUDY OF THE MINOR 
PROPHETS. 



The student of the Bible will remember that 
his principal work should first be to gain fam- 
ilarity with the facts which the books them- 
selves contain. Commentaries are intended to 
aid one to an understanding of what is meant 
by what is said. One should first know what 
is said. Do not overuse helps. The follow- 
ing suggestions are offered on Helps in the 
Study of the Minor Prophets. The object is 
to suggest those most easily accessible. 

i. The best help of all is the Revised Ver- 
sion of the Bible. 

2. Bible Dictionaries contain a vast amount 
of information in a condensed form. Smith's 
Bible Dictionary is standard. Consult also 
cyclopedias. 

3. Each student should possess a concord- 
ance. The one bound up in your Bible will 
probably serve you sufficiently well. 

4. The books of Kings and Chronicles 
should be studied for the history of the times 
in which the prophets lived. 

5. Consult Old Testament histories for a 
knowledge of prophetic times. Rawlinson's 
Kings of Judah and Israel (in the Men of Bible 



28 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

series) is a good book to read. Geikie's Hours 
with the Bible is very good. Vol. iv. gives a 
good description of the times of Joel, Amos, 
Hosea, Micah, etc. One says : "If a student 
have the historical setting he has little need of 
a commentary. " 

6. Any commentary on the Minor Prophets 
which may be at hand will be helpful. Among 
those which may be consulted with profit are 
Keil, Bible (Speaker's) Com., Cambridge Bible, 
Pusey, Lange, Henderson. 

7. Any introduction to the books of the Old 
Testament may be consulted. There may be 
named Harman's, Davidson's, Driver's, Stearns', 
Price's. * 

* The Introductions by Price and Stearns are small and inexpen- 
sive. Evi ry student would do well to purchase both. That by 
Price is published by the Missouri S. S. Association, 27 Laclede 
Bldg., St. Louis, Mo., and costs 25 cents. That by Stearns is 
published by Silver, Burdett & Co. , 50 Bromfield street, Boston, and 
will cost about one dollar. In Steam's book a list of helps is sug- 
gested in connection with each of the books of the Old Testa- 
ment. 



HOSEA. 

Striki?ig Features: 

See Caution Page 6. 

1. The connection between the message of 
the prophet and his domestic experience. 

2. The figurative character of the language. 
Note especially the different figures by which 
Israel is characterized. 

3. The condensed, broken character of the 
composition, and consequent difficulty of at- 
tempting to outline the thought. 

4. The prominence given to Ephraim in 
the book. 

5. The emphasis of the love of God in the 
book. 

6. The proportion of the book given to de- 
scribing the moral condition of Israel. 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

See Caution Page 6. 

1. That in v. 1 the names of four Kings of 
Judah occur which are mentioned in Isaiah i. I. 
Cf. also Mic. i. 1. 

2. The strange command of God to the 
prophet, v. 2. 



30 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

3. The significance of the names of the 
children, vs. 4, 6, 9. Cf. Isa. vii. 3; viii. 3, 16-18. 

4. The fact that each name was given by 
God's direction, vs. 4, 6, 9. Accepting this 
chapter as a record of fact, the communications 
to Hosea extended over a considerable period 
of time. 

5. The contrast between the statement in v. 
6 (concerning Israel as over against Judah) 
and that in vs. 10 and 11; also the contrast in 
the two uses of the word Jezreel, the one in v. 
4; and the other in v. 11. (cf. ii. 22.) 



CHAPTER 11. 
Striking Facts: 

See Caution Page 6. 

1. The unity of the chapter, the figure of 
marriage running through it. 

2. The sudden change of scene and address 
in v. 2. 

3. The renewal of marriage relations be- 
tween the outraged husband and the unfaithful 
wife represented as to take place. Cf., and 
read Jer. iii., and Ezek. xvi., xxiii. 

4. The relation between suffering and sin, 
and that between well doing and prosperity as 
emphasized in vs. 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 21, 22. 

5. The wonderful love of God as here man- 
ifested toward Israel. 



HOSEA. 31 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6, 

1. The manifest connection between this 
chapter and chapter i. 

2. The difficulty in determining this con- 
nection. 

3. The force of the figure whatever the in- 
terpretation of the story. 

4. The fulfillment of the prophecy in v. 4. 

5. The wonderful faithfulness and love of 
God manifested in the declaration of v. 5. 



Striking Facts : 



CHAPTER IV 



See Caution, page 6\ 



i» The fearful moral corruption described, 
vs. 1, 2, 11-19. 

2. The rapid changes in person in vs. 4-8, 
necessitating great care in order to understand 
the meaning. 

3. The suffering of nature with man on ac- 
count of his sin, v. 3; cf. many passages, espec. 
Jer. xii. 4; Isa. xxiv. 3-6; also Isa. xi. 6-9, for 
contrasted condition. 

4. The presence of two passages frequently 
used, one of which is often misquoted and mis- 
applied, (a) "Like people, like priest," v. 9. 
(b) "Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone, ' 
v. 17. 



32 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

5. Advice to Judah to take warning and not 
follow in the footsteps of Israel, v. 15. 

CHAPTER V. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The personal arraignment of the priests 
and princes as the cause of apostacy, v. 1. 

2. The contrast between expressions in vs. 
3,4. "I know Ephraim;" "They know not 
the Lord." 

3. The power of habit as stated in v. 4. Cf. 
vii. 2. and Rom. vi. 16. 

4. There comes a time when the wicked 
shall seek God and find Him not, v. 6. 

5. The remedial character of the judgments 
sent as shown in v. 15. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. Announcement of speedy restoration and 
healing, and the strikingly beautiful language 
in which it is given, vs. 1-3. 

2. The ephemeral character of the repent- 
ance described in beautiful figure, v. 4. 

3. The relation between sin and suffering 
shown in vs. 5, II. Cf. figure of Sowing in New 
Testament. 

4. The spiritual character of the Old Testa- 



HO^EA. 



33 



ment ritual emphasized in v. 6. (cf. Isa. i. n-20; 
Mic. vi. 6-8.) 

5. The contrast between God's high require- 
ments and Israel's conduct, vs. 6-10. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The pity and longsuffering of God mani- 
fested in his treatment of Israel, vs. I, 10, 13, 

2. The connection between sin and suffer- 
ing, vs. 2, 9, 13, 16. 

3. The depth of sin in which the nation had 
plunged, vs. 2, 3, 4-7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16. 

4. The use of the figure of the oven, vs. 4-7. 

5. Other figures by which the people char- 
acterized, v. 8, "cake not turned;" v. 1 1, "silly 
dove;" v. 16, "deceitful bow." 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The cry of Israel in the time of danger, 
v. 2. 

2. The emphasis given in several places in 
the chapter of the relation between sin and 
suffering. 

3. The emphatic and specific denunciation 
of idolatry. 



34 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

4. The figures of a castaway vessel and wild 
ass in vs. 8, 9. 

5. The statement that for their sin Israel 
should return to Egypt, v. 13. 

Query: Does this announce a literal return, 
or is the language figurative? cf. chaps, ix. 3,6; 
xi. 1, 5, 11. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The mention of Egypt with Assyria, v.3, 
as a country to which the Israelites w T ould go. 

Query: Were they to go by force, or were 
they to flee there? cf. v. 6. 

2. The reference, v. 9, to the days of Gib- 
eah. For account of incident alluded to, vid. 
Judges xix-xxi. 

3. The figures, v. 10, by which God described 
His first love for Israel. 

4. The emphasis, vs. 11-16, of the judgment 
upon the children. 

Query: Is there any connection between 
this and the incestuous worship practiced by 
the people? 

5. The prophet identifying himself with God 
and His cause, vs. 14-17. 

chapter x. 
Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

I. The figure of v. 1, and the emphasis, in 



HOSEA. 85 

connection with its use, of the fact that the 
more God blessed Israel the more wicked His 
people became. 

2. The striking figures of speech, e. g. vs. 

4, 7> ll - 

5. The presence in v. 8 of language supposed 

by many to have been uttered first by the 
author of the book of Revelation. 

4. The second reference by Hosea to Gib- 
eah. Cf. ix, 9. 

5. The striking appeal of v. 12 together with 
the figure in which it is uttered. 

CHAPTER XI. 

S ft iking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. Renewed reference (this is the third, cf. 
ix. io; x. I.) to the early history of Israel and 
God's former care of the nation. 

2. The contrast between the love of God 
and the ingratitude of the Israelites as brought 
out in vs. i, 2. 

3. The sudden change of person in v.3 (vid. 
margin of R.V.). "To be accounted for from 
the fact that the prophet could very easily pass 
from speaking in the name of God to speaking 
of God, Himself." Del. 

4. The light which v. 5 in connection with 
v. 1 throws on the other passages of the book; 
vid. viii. 13; ix. 3, 6, which speak of Israel's 
return to Egypt. 

5. The very striking language of love in vs. 



36 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

8, 9, together with the announcement that at 
last God will call to His people who will return 
to Him, vs. io, ii. 

Note in this connection the mixture of figure 
in the last two verses of the chapter. 

chapter xii. 
Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The reference, v. i, to and condemnation 
of treaty making with Assyria and Egypt. 

2. The announcement, v. 2, of God's judg- 
ment upon Judah as well as upon the North 
country. Cf. other references to Judah in the 
prophecy of Hosea, the burden of whose mes- 
sage is concerning Israel. 

3. The reference, vs, 3-6, to Jacob prevailing 
with God in prayer. This was suggested to 
Israel as an example for imitation. Note the 
connection between vs. 5 and 6. 

4. The contrast between Ephraim and God 
in vs. 8, 9. Ephraim is represented as claiming 
all the honor of position and possession. God 
says He is and has been the source of all 
power and riches. 

5. The reference to Jacob's experience to 
show Ephraim that he owed all to God, who 
had raised him from a lowly condition and had 
all along cared for him and used every means, 
v. 10, to reclaim him from sin. In spite ot all, 
Ephraim refused to obey and must conse- 
quently suffer. 



HOSE A. 37 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The reference, v. i, to Ephraim exalting 
himself and revolting. Vid. foot note page — . 

2. The striking expression, "he died,' 1 v. I, 
i e. he sealed his doom. This suggests Gen. 
ii. 17; Prov. ix. 18; 1 Tim. v. 6. 

3. The ironical description of the strange 
perversion of Ephraim in worshiping his own 
workmanship, v. 2,* and the figurative descrip- 
tion of the consequence, v. 3. 

4. The danger of men in prosperity forget- 
ting God and the result, vs. 6-9. Note here 
also the figures used. Those of vs. 7, 8, follow 
that of a flock, v. 6. 

5. The source of the language, in v. 14 with 
that of Isa. xxv, 8, used by Paul in 1 Cor. xv. 
55- 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Striking Facts: 

See Caution, page 6. 

1. The promising, hopeful character of this 
chapter as a whole. 

2. The mention of Egypt, Assyria and 
Idolatry as abandoned when the people return 
to God, v. 3. 

3 The never-failing love of God in receiv- 

*It is not probable that human sacrificing is here referred to. If 
the reference is to the sacrificing of human beings, the contrast is 
Tery strong. They slay men and worship calves. 



38 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

ing back the penitent however wicked he majr 
have been, v. 4 ff. 

4. The beauty of the description of restora- 
tion in vs. 4-7, in contrast with the descriptions 
of destruction in former chapters, e. g. v. 12; 
xiii. 7, 8; xiii. 15. In connection with this 
description of the future it should be noted 
that Ephraim means fruitful, cf. xiii. 15, and 
Gen. xlix. 22-26. 

5. The conclusion of the prophecy, v. 9, and 
the occurrence of the word just for the first time 
in Hosea. 



NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 



See Caution Page 6. 

I. Gomer chapter. 

II. Betrothal chapter. 

III. Separation chapter. 

IV. Whoredom-wine chapter. 

V. Withdrawal chapter (vid. vs. 6, 15.) 

VI. Third day chapter. 

VII. Oven chapter. 

VIII. Law chapter. (" My Law" occurs twice.) 

IX. Gibeah chapter. 

X. Plow chapter. 

XL Out of Egypt chapter. * 

XII. Jacob chapter. 

XIII. Calf chapter. 

XIV. Lebanon chapter. 

* Connect by a straight line the first verse and the last of the 
eleventh chapter in each of which is found this expression 



HOSEA. 



TOPICS FOR STUDY. 



89 



1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Language and style of Hosea, 

4. Figures of speech in Hosea. 

5. Hosea's domestic relations. Other proph- 
ets whose domestic relations figured in connec- 
tion with their work. 

6. Moral and religious condition of Hosea's 
time. 

7. The political situation in the time of 
Hosea. 

8. The relation of Israel (the North) and 
Judah (the South) as presented by Hosea. 

9. The prominence given Ephraim in Hosea. 

10. The references to Egypt in Hosea. 

11. The relation of sin and punishment as 
presented by Hosea. 

12. The character of God as presented by 
Hosea. 

13. The five best texts in Hosea. 

14. The Messianic element in Hosea. 

15. The substance of the book in one hundred 
words. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Collect the figures by which Ephraim is 
characterized, e. g %y Harlot, iv. 15; Stubborn 
heifer, iv. 16, etc. 

2. Note the references in the book to the sin 
of foreign alliances. Gather out all the refer- 
ences to Egypt and Assyria and study them. 



40 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

3. Make a list of the passages in I^osea which 
teach that sin is the cause of suffering; also 
those which indicate that the kind of suffering is 
determined by the sin. 

4. Connect Go of i. 2, and Go of iii. 1, by a 
straight line. 

5. Connect by a straight line Whoredom and 
wine, iv. II, and drink and whoredom, iv. 18. 

6. Connect my law, viii. 2, and my law viii. 
12. 

7. Underscore with double lines the verse 
which you select from each chapter. 

8. Connect by straight lines strikingly simi- 
lar expressions and make brief notes of ex- 
planation in the margin. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. How many chapters does the book of 
Hosea contain? 

2. What other Minor Prophet has the same 
number? 

3. Why is Hosea found first in order of the 
Minor Prophets? 

4. With what two prophets was Hosea con- 
temporary? 

5. How many times is the name Ephraim 
found in the book? 

6. Account for the frequency of the use of 
this name. 

7. Note the relationship of Joseph, Joshua, 
and Jeroboam to Ephraim. 

8. Name the different figures by which 
Ephraim is characterized in the book 



ROSEA. 



41 



g. Do you know of any literature more florid 
in style than the book of Hosea? 

10. What attribute of God is most promi- 
nently set forth in the book of Hosea? 




42 THE MINOK PKOPHETS. 



JOEL. 

Striking Features: 

1. The limited amount of information which 
is given concerning the prophet himself. 

2. The graphic style. 

3. The pure, classic language. 

4. The description of an army in such a man- 
ner as to cause great difference of opinion as to 
the interpretation, some maintaining that a real 
army of men is described, and others claiming 
that a succession of locust invasions is referred 
to. 

5. The presence of the well known passage 
concerning the out-pouring of the Spirit which 
was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost. 

6. The emphasis given to the salvation of 
God's own people in contrast with the an- 
nouncement of sure destruction of all their en- 
emies. 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts : 

1. The brevity of the introduction to the 
prophetic message, v. 1. 

2. The exceptional character of the judgment 
announced, as indicated by vs. 2-4. 



JOEL. 



43 



3. The urgency of the prophet in view of 
the judgment announced. Vid. vs. 5, 8, 11,13, 
14. Note the graphic character of the chapter 
throughout. 

4. The call to worship, v. 14, evidently meant 
as a means of removal of judgment. 

5. The direct appeal of the prophet to God, 
v. 19, and the nature of the appeal, especially 
in that the suffering of beasts is mentioned in 
connection with that of man in consequence of 
sin, v. 20. 



CHAPTER II. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The expression " Blow ye the trumpet in 
Zion," found twice in the chapter, vs. 1, 15, and 
the difference in the contexts of the two 
verses. 

2. The very graphic description of the on- 
coming army, vs. 3-1 1. 

3. The merciful character of God as pre- 
sented in vs. 13, 14, and his readiness to remove 
affliction as soon as the necessary conditions 
are complied with, as seen in vs. 18-27. Note 
in connection with this the bearing of v. 25 on 
the interpretation of the book as a whole. 

Remark. Probably the best explanation of 
v. 14 is that the Hebrew phrase does not 
express doubt, but rather affirmation connected 
with desire, as if w r e were to say: Surely he 
will return, etc. 

4. The general summons of the people to 



44 THE MIJSOR PROPHETS. 

repentance, v. 16, and the peculiar argument 
suggested for the intercession, v. 17. This 
touched the honor of God rather than the 
pitiful condition of the people. Cf. argument of 
Moses in his intercession for Israel. 

5. The presence of the well-known passage 
quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost, vs. 
28-32. Note in connection with this passage 
the connection between God's blessing of His 
own people and His judgment on His enemies. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striki?ig Facts: 

1. The reference to the time, v. I, and the 
description given of the summoning of the 
nations to judgment, together with the reason 
assigned, vs. 2-8. 

2. Reference to the slave trade, v. 3, and 
mention of the Grecians, v. 6, together with the 
relation between the sins mentioned, vs. 2, 3, 
5, 6, and the punishment announced, vs. 4, 7, 8. 

3. The correspondences between parts of 
this chapter and certain verses in Amos: 

a. The presence of the text of Amos, i. 2, in 
Joel iii. 16. 

b. The figure in v. 18 corresponding to that 
in Amos ix. 13. 

c. The reference to Edom's sin, v. 19, which 
is found also in Amos i. II. 

4. The contrast in the chapter between the 
judgment on nations which were God's enemies, 
and the assurance of permanence and prosperity 
of God's own people, Israel. 



JOEL. 45 

5. The very graphic character of the call to 
nations to come to the valley of decision, 
together with the description of the gathering, 
especially in vs. 9-14. 

Note in this connection the reversal in v. 10 
of the figure found in Isa. ii. 4, and Mic. iv. 3. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The locust-drouth chapter. 

II. The repentance-blessing chapter. 

III. The valley of decision chapter. 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Striking features ot the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Methods of interpretation. 

4. Arguments in favorof literal interpretation. 

5. Arguments in favor of allegorical inter- 
pretation. 

6. The political situation in Joel's time. 

7. The religious situation in Joel's time. 

8. Arguments favoring early date of the book. 

9. Arguments favoring late date of the book. 

10. Language and style of Joel. 

11. The imagery of Joel. 

12. The drought described. 

13. The locust scourge described. 

14. The Messianic element in Joel. 

15. Joel and other prophetic material. 

16. Joel and the book of Revelation. 

17. "The day of the Lord" in Joel. 

18. "The Northerner." 



46 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

ig. "The valley of decision. " 

20. The thought of the book in the fewest 
words possible. 

21. The most graphic passage in Joel — A 
select reading. 

22. The- verse in Joel which you consider 
the best — a memorized quotation. 



SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Connect by straight lines in chap. I, the 
expressions, " Hear this" v. 2, "Tell ye" v. 3, 
u Awake ye" v. 5, "Lament" v. 8, " Be ashamed" 
v. 11, " Gird yourselves" v. 13, etc. 

2. Read the first chapter and attempt to 
catch the spirit of urgency which the prophet 
evidently felt. 

3. Connect by line, " Blow the trumpet" found 
twice in chapter ii. 

4. Connect by line, " 0, Lord, to thee do I 
cry" i. 19, and "Spare thy people, } Lord" ii. 17. 

5. Connect by line, "Northern" ii. 20, and 
" My great army y ii. 25. 

6. Connect by lines, " The valley of Jehosha- 
phat" iii. 2, 12, and " Valley of decision" v. i$i 

7. Note the bearing of " My great army" m 
ii. 25, on the interpretation of the book as a 
whole. Does this favor allegorical or literal 
interpretation? 

8. In the margin by iii. 15, write, Text of 
,Amos, see Amos i. 2. 

9. In the margin by iii. 18, write, see Amos 
ix. 13. 



JOEL. 47 

10. Connect by straight line, Edom, iii. 19, 
and Edorn, Amos i. II. 

11. Write the outline of Joel upon which 
you may decide, in the space at the opening of 
the book. 

12. Read up on locusts and study the second 
chapter in the light of your investigation. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. How many chapters in the book? What 
other books of the Minor Prophets have the 
same number? 

2. What appears to be the sin of the people 
for which calamity is to come upon them? 

3. What are the judgments announced? 

4. Do you accept the literal or the alle- 
gorical interpretation of the book? Why? 

5. Who quoted the book of Joel on an im- 
portant occasion? Give the quotation from 
memory. 

6. What is meant by "the valley of Jehosh- 
aphat?" 

7. In what other places in the Bible is lan- 
guage very similar to that found in the former 
part of iii. 10? 

8. What is the force of the figure in iii. 18? 

9. Why are Egypt and Edom mentioned in 
iii. 19? 

10. What in Joel has been helpful to you 
practically and in a spiritual way? 



48 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



AMOS. 

Strikijig Features: 

i The artful manner in which the prophe- 
cies against nations are introduced. 

2. The series of visions in chapters vii.-ix. 

3. The unity of plan governing the arrange- 
ment of the book. 

4. The concrete, specific character of the 
prophecies. 

5. The announcement in chapter ix. of the 
restoration of the dilapidated booth of David 
in contrast with the declarations of destruction 
of palaces, etc., which pervade the book. 

6. The purity of the language, and the 
classical and refined style of Amos, in general, 
in view of his occupation and training. 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

1. The specific time to which the prophecy 
is referred, v. I. 

2. The apparent use of Joel iii. 16, as a 

text, V. 2. 

3. The statement in v. 1, that the prophecy 
was concerning Israel, while thirteen of the 



AMOS. 



49 



fifteen verses of the chapter relate to foreign 
nations. 

Query: Why are these foreign prophecies 
introduced here? 

4. The recurrence of certain expressions: 

a. "For three transgressions . . . yea, for 
four" (five times), 

b. "I will send afire" (five times). 

c. "It shall devour the palaces" (five times). 

d. "Saith the Lord'" (eight times). 

5. The mention of a specific sin in each 
charge against the nations, vs. 3, 6, 9, 11, 13. 

Query: Do not the references to Edom in 
vs. 6, 9, 11, have an important bearing on the 
question to the date of the book of Obadiah? 



CHAPTER 11. 

Striking Facts: 

1 . The continuance of the prophecies against 
nations (with the recurring expression as found 
in chapter i.), which conclude with a prophecy 
concerning Israel, the people to whom Amos 
was sent. 

Ronark. These eight nations mentioned ap- 
pear to be arranged in climacteric order. The 
first three were strictly foreign; the next three 
were related by blood; Judah was nearest of all 
to Israel. 

2. The specific character of the prophet's 
charges, vid. espec. vs. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12. 

3. The reference to God's goodness in the 



50 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

past, vs. 9, io, ii, in contrast with the present 
sinfulness of His people. 

4. The reflection of the former life of Amos 
in the figure used in v. 13, together with the 
force of the figure indicating the longsuffering 
of God. 

5. The impossibility of escape of those who 
had thus at last compelled God to visit them 
in judgment, vs. 14-16. 



CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The emphasis in v. 1 of the fact that 
Israel was especially favored by God, con- 
nected with the announcement in v. 2, that on 
that very account God would punish them. 

2. The difficulty of understanding the mean- 
ing of vs. 3-8. 

Query: Are these seven questions parallel 
and used to emphasize the relation of cause 
and effect, leading up to vs. 7 and 8, or what is 
their force? 

3. The call to heathen nations, v. 9, to take 
their stand about Samaria and be astonished at 
the wickedness found therein, cf. v. 13. 

4. The force of the figure in v. 12, indicating 
the insignificant remnant that would survive 
the punishment to be visited for sin. 

5. The presence of the word palaces or its 
equivalent in vs. 9, 10, 12, and the expressions, 
winter house, summer house and houses of ivory. 



AMOS. 



51 



v. 15. Cf. references to palaces in chapters i.; 
and ii. 

Query: Did Amos have an especial aversion 
to palaces and luxury? 

CHAPTER IV. 

Striki?ig Facts: 

1 . The strong figure in v. 1 , sustained through 
v. 3, and the solemn oath used, v. 2, in declar- 
ing God's judgment on these wicked women. 

2. The formality and magnificence of the 
worship of the times connected with great 
moral degradation as indicated by the ironical 
language of vs. 4 and 5. 

3. The longsuffering of God as indicated 
by His repeated efforts to lead His people 
back to Him by correction, vs. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11. 

4. The incorrigibleness of the people of 
Israel and the consequent challenge given by 
God, v. 12, to His enemies to meet Him as He 
comes in judgment. 

5. The character of God as the omnipotent, 
omniscient Creator, v. 13. 

chapter v, 
Striking Facts: 

1. The presence in v. 1 of the expression, 
"Hear ye this word," which stands also at the 
head of chapters iii. and iv. 

2. The recurrence of, "Seek the Lord," or 
its equivalent, four times, and the result of fol- 



52 the mi!nor prophets. 

lowing this advice as contrasted with seeking 
after false gods and their worship. 

3. The references to a remnant in vs. 3 and 

4. The emphasis of the necessity of right 
living as over against formal worship, cf. v. 14, 
and vs. 21-24. 

5. The definite character of the prediction 
in v. 27 

CHAPTER VI. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The emphasis of the fact that Israel was 
the chief of the nations, v. I, and the force of 
the comparison with other nations, v. 2. 

Query: In what sense was this true? 

2. The graphic description of luxury in vs. 

4-6. 

3. The solemnity of the oath, v. 8. 

4. The severity of the coming judgment as 
indicated by the announcement that extreme 
and unusual measures would be taken to dis- 
pose of the dead, v. 10. 

5. The force of the figures in v. 12 indicat- 
ing the impossibility of escaping the legitimate 
result of sin, together with the specific nature 
of the prophecy concerning the nature of the 
coming judgment. Cf. v. 7 and v. 14. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The three visions, in the first two of 



AMOS. 



53 



which the prophet is represented as interceding 
for the people, and God is represented as hear- 
ing the prophet and repenting of the evil, 
vs. 1-6. 

2. The fact that in the third vision there is 
no intercession on the part of the prophet, but 
instead the announcement by God that He will 
avert judgment no longer, v. 8 b. The visions 
appear to be in climacteric order. Cf. the vis- 
ions in chapters viii., ix. 

3. The definite prediction concerning the 
house of Jeroboam II., v. 9. 

4. The answer of Amos to Amaziah's con- 
temptuous order to the prophet to return to 
his own land and prophecy, vs. '14, 15. 

5. The boldness of Amos in prophesying 
concerning the King, v. 9, and in answering the 
priest, v. 17, together with the specific char- 
acter of the word of Amos against Amaziah, 
v. 17. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Striking Facts: 

2. The advance of the vision of summer 
fruit on that of the plumbline. In that judg- 
ment was represented as certain; here it is rep- 
resented as imminent. 

2. The rotten spots of the fruit as pointed 
out in vs. 4-6. 

3. The solemn announcement of dire judg- 
ment on the people for their works, vs. 7-10. 

4. The announcement of a cessation of 



54 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

prophecy, vs. n, 12, on account of the utter 
rejection of God's word. 

5. The hopelessness and helplessness of the 
coming time of suffering — false gods cannot 
save, vs. 13, 14. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The appearance of the Lord Himself in 
this last vision, (cf. Visions of Locusts, Fire, 
Plumbline, and Basket of Fruit, in chapters vii., 
viii.) These visions seem to be climacterically 
arranged. 

2. The emphasis given to the fact that 
God's enemies cannot possibly escape from 
Him, together with the figures used in setting 
this forth, vs. 2, 3. 

3. The beauty and majesty of the chapter 
as a whole, especially in view of the fact that 
it was spoken by Amos, the herdman of 
Tekoa. 

4. The promise, even after such sweeping 
language as that found in vs. 1-4, that a rem- 
nant would be saved, and that not a single 
grain of wheat should be lost in the sifting to 
which God was about to subject His people 
among the nations. 

Query: Is this sifting now going on? 

5. The prophecy of blessing through David's 
house, beginning v. 9, which closes up this book 
of Amos, whose burden has been punisliment. 



AMOS. 00 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The foreign chapter. 

II. The cart chapter. 

III. The lion chapter. 

IV. The kine chapter. 

V. The seek chapter. 

VI. The oxen chapter. 

VII. The locust chapter. 

VIII. The basket chapter. 

IX. The Davidic chapter. 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Outline of the book. 

3. Language and style of Amos. 

4. Personal history of Amos. 

5. Character of Amos. 

6. Religious and moral condition of the 
times. 

7. The political situation at home. 

8. The political situation abroad. 

9. "Uzziah, king of Judah." 

10. " Jeroboam, the son of Joash." 

11. Tekoa. 

12. Moab and Ammon. 

13. Edom. 

14. Relation of the books of Joel and Amos. 

15. The foreign prophecies in Amos. Cf. for- 
eign prophecies in other books. 

16. The adaptation of Amos to the work as- 
signed him. 



56 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

1 7. Mention characteristics of Amos worthy 
of imitation by preachers of today. 

18. The Instrument of Israel's punishment 
in Amos. 

19. The "Remnant" in Amos. 

20. References in Amos to the Southland. 

21. Expressions in the book reflecting occu- 
pation and education of Amos. 

22. Give explanation of chapter iii. 1-8. 

23. Give setting of the words, "Prepare to 
meet thy God, Israel" 

24. Vision of locusts. 

25. Vision of fire. 

26. Vision of plumbline. 

27. Vision of basket of fruit. 

28. Vision of broken altar. 

29. James quoting from the book of Amos 
(See book of Acts). 

30. Story of the priest's interference with 
Amos. 

31. Give the substance of the book in one 
hundred words; in ten words. 

32. Give the five best texts in the book. 

33. Quote three verses from the book each of 
which closes with the expression, "The Lord is 
his name." (Give chapter, verse, and context.) 

34. The Messianic element in Amos. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Make two or three charts with the pur- 
pose of locating the reign of Jeroboam II. 

2. Make a chart showing the relation in time 
of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. 



AMOS. 57 

3. Make a chart bringing out the relation in 
time between Isaiah and Amos. 

4. Connect by a straight line the words, " Is- 
rael" i. I, and ii. 6. 

5. Connect the following words in chap, i., ii,: 
"Damascus" L 3; " Gaza" i. 6; " Tyre" i. 9; 
"Edom" \.u\ "Amnion" i. 13; " Moab" ii. 1; 
"Judah" ii. 4; " Israel" ii. 6. * 

6. Note the expression in connection with 
each of the above names. 

7. Connect (with a different colored mark if 
possible) the places where the expression, " de- 
vour the palaces" occurs in chaps, i., ii. 

8. Go through the book and note the fre- 
quent reference to palaces and great houses 
and contrast the emphasis of their destruction 
with the prominence given to the prophecy in 
chap. ix. concerning the elevation of the tent of 
David 

9. Underscore with a double line the verse in 
each chapter which, taking all things into ac- 
count, you consider the best. Heed this sug- 
gestion in chapters in succeeding books. 

10. Connect the expressions, "the Lord shall 
roar" i. 2; "Will a lion roar" iii. 4; and "The 
lion hath roared" iii. 8. 

11. Connect " Hear ye" found at the opening 
of three chapters.* 

12. Connect the expression "yet have ye not 
returned" found five times in one of the chap- 
ters. 

* When it is de8ired to connect two expressions on different sides 
of the same leaf, run the line to the edge on the one side, and 
from the edge on the othe** side. Put arrow points on the ends 
toward the edge. 



58 THE MINOli PROPHETS. 

13. Connect the word "seek" found several 
times in chapter v. 

14. Connect the following words in chapters 
vii., viii., ix.: "locusts" vii. 1; "fire" vii. 4; 
" plumbli?ie" vii. 7; "basket" viii. 1; "altar" ix. 1. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. What other Minor Prophet refers to the 
earthquake in Uzziah's reign? 

2. In what other (M. P.) book is the former 
part of i. 2 found? 

3. Name in order given, and locate the coun- 
tries against which Amos spoke (chaps, i., ii.). 

4. Show how Amos was specially adapted 
to the condemnation of the luxury of his 
times. 

5. What is the usual interpretation, given to 
iii. 3? Is it correct? 

6. How may the language of iv. 4, 5, be char- 
acterized? 

7. Is the Assyrian Captivity anywhere re- 
ferred to in Amos? 

8. Name the visions of chaps, vii.-ix. in or- 
der. 

9. Name all the figures of speech found in 
the book which reflect the education and occu- 
pation of the prophet. 

10. What would you give as a summary of 
the religious teaching of the book of Amos? 



OBADIAH. 



Striki?ig Features: 

1. It is the shortest book in the Old Testa- 
ment. 

2. Its prophecy is concerning a foreign na- 
tion. 

3. Its author is unknown. . 

4. Its date cannot be definitely determined. 

5. Small as is this book it is not without a 
definite announcement of salvation through and 
for the Jews. 

6. The recurrence of the name Esau, and the 
expression, " mount of Esau." Note how this 
contrasts with Mount Zion. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The figures of speech in the chapter, c. g. y 
eagle, v. 4; thieves and grape gatherers, v. 5; 
fire, flame, stubble, v. 18. 

2. The Edomites were to be utterly destroyed. 

3. The causes of the destruction were: 

a. Pride. 

b. Violence to brother Jacob. 

4. The contrast between the mount of Esau 
and Mount Zion. The mount of Esau was to 
be possessed by strangers; Mount Zion was to 



60 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

be exalted and would become the refuge of 
God's people. 

5. The emphasis of the principle that nations 
shall reap as they sow, vs. 15, 16. 

NAME OF THE CHAPTER. 

I. The Edom chapter. 

TOPICS FOR STUDZ. 

1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Obadiah and # other prophetic material, es- 
pecially, Jer. xlix. 

3. Theme and outline of the book. 

4. Different invasions to which the prophecy 
has been referred. 

5. Summary of arguments in favor of assign- 
ing the prophecy to Jehoram's time. 

6. Summary of arguments in favor of assign- 
ing the prophecy to the time of the Chaldean 
Captivity. 

7. Edom — History and relationship to Judah. 

8. Recite from memory vs. 3, 4; also v. 21. 

9. Give the thought of the book in ten 
words. 

10. The Messianic element in Obadiah. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Read history of Edom in encyclopedia or 
Bible dictionary. 

2. Read history of Esau in Genesis. 



OBADIAH. 



61 



3. Locate the land of Edom and learn what 
you can about its extent and topography. 

4. Connect Amos ix. 2, and Obad. 4. 

5. Connect the places where Esau and Edom 
are used in the prophecy. 

6. Compare what Amos, Joel and Obadiah 
say about Edom. 

7. Compare Obadiah arfd Psalm cxxxvii. 

QUESTIONS, 

1. What is known of Obadiah? 

2. To what different times has the prophecy 
been assigned? 

3. What is the sin for which Edom is con- 
demned? 

4. What was the relationship between Edom 
and Israel? 

5. What two mountains are strikingly con- 
trasted in this prophecy? 

6. What Psalms refer to Edom? 

7. In what Minor Prophet is to be found v. 
17? 

8. Why does Edom figure so prominently in 
the prophetic literature? 

9. What kings of Israel had difficulty with 
Edom? 

10. Give account of Moses' experience with 
Edom. 



62 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



JONAH. 

Striking Features: 

1. The seeming excess of narrative in a book 
classed as prophetic. 

2. The absence of figures of speech. 

3. The apparent superabundance of the mir- 
aculous element in the book. 

4. The fact that the book presents God in 
his dealing not with his own people, but with a 
foreign nation. 

5. The fullness of detail in the book so far 
as it goes, in contrast with the suddenness of 
its ending which leaves us questioning what 
became of the prophet. 

Query: Is what became of Jonah of so much 
value to us as the character of God as presented 
in the book? 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

1. A prophet was sent by God to cry against 
a foreign nation. 

2. The action of the prophet: 

a. His fleeing from the presence of the Lord, 

v. 3- 

b. His sleeping in the ship, v. 5. 

c. His frank confession to the sailors, vs. 9, 
12. 



JONAH. 



63 



> 



The action of the sailors: 

a. Their fear and appeal to their gods, v. 5 

b. Their casting lots and the result, v. 7. 

c> Their treatment of Jonah, vs. 8, 11, I3» x 5- 
d. Their prayer and sacrifice to God, vs. 14, 
16. 

4. The relationship of the Lord to the wind 
v. 4, and the fish, v. 17. 

5. The indications in the chapter that this is 
a very summarized account. Vid. vs. 10, 16. 

chapter 11. -., 

Striking Facts: 

1. The prompt turning of the prophet to God 
in affliction. 

2. The mature Christian character displayed 
in the prayer. 

3. The knowledge of Scripture displayed in 
the prayer. Many of the petitions are taken 
from the Psalms. 

4. The description of condition of the proph- 
et in harmony with actual experience as re- 
corded in the book. 

5. The promptness of God in delivering his 
prophet in answer to his prayer. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The repetition of the command of God to 
Jonah and his readiness in responding. 

2. The apparent unconditional character of 



64 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



the prophecy of Jonah (v. 4), and the subse- 
quent action of God (v. 10). 

3. The recognition of the people of Nineveh 
that Jonah was from God and their prompt re- 
pentance. 

4. The extravagant manner in which the 
Ninevites expressed their sorrow for their 
sins. 

5. The action of God in response to the re- 
pentance and confession of the Ninevites, v. 
10. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Striking Facts: 

1. That Jonah should be displeased at the 
Lord's mercy toward the Ninevites. 

2. That Jonah had anticipated the result of 
his preaching and on this account had fled. 

3. The longsuffering of God in his dealing 
with Jonah is worthy of note. 

4. The mission of the gourd in bringing into 
view the mercy of man as compared with that 
of God. 

5. The manner of indicating the size of the 
city Nineveh, v. 1 1. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The storm chapter. 

II. The prayer chapter. 

III. The sackcloth chapter. 

IV. The gourd chapter 



JONAH 



TOPICS FOR STUDY. 



65 



1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Methods of interpretation. 

4. Brief statement of contents of book. 

5. Jonah's mission. 

6. Design of the book. 

7. Estimate of character of Jonah. 

8. The miraculous element in the book. 

9. The cities Joppa, Tarshish, Nineveh. 

10. Jonah and Nahum compared and con- 
trasted, 

11. Authorship and date of the book. 

12. Jonah's prayer. 

13. Conditional prophecy illustrated by Jo- 
nah's message to Nineveh. Give other illus- 
trations. 

14. God in the book of Jonah. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Examine the books of The Kings for im- 
portant statement concerning Jonah. 

2. Draw a chart showing relation in time of 
Jonah, Amos, and Isaiah. 

3. Study the prayer of Jonah for quotations 
from the Psalms. 

4. Note the instructive contrasts between 
Jonah and the sailors. 

5. Study the books of Jonah and Nahum to- 
gether. 

6. Draw a chart showing relation in time of 
Jonah and Nahum. 



66 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

7. Contrast treatments of Nineveh by God at 
the times of Jonah and Nahum. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. In what connection is Jonah mentioned in 
the New Testament? 

2. In what sense was Jonah said to be a 
"sign" to the Ninevites? 

3. What part of the book do you regard as 
an account of that which is strictly miraculous? 

4. Did Jonah understand the language of the 
sailors? Of the Ninevites? 

5. Why has the book of Jonah been made 
the butt of ridicule among unbelievers to a 
greater extent than any other book of the 
Bible? 

6. How are we to understand the statement 
that God repented in the light of statements in 
the Bible to the effect that God does not 
change? 

7. Assign reasons for Jonah's flight. 

8. What is the teaching of the book concern- 
ing God? 

9. Is it probable the Ninevites had heard 
of God before Jonah's visit? Is it likely they 
knew of Jonah's experience in the sea? 

10. What practical teaching does the book 
furnish to the Christian? 



MICAH. 

Striking Fe attires: 

1. Resemblance of the book to that of Isaiah 
in many respects. 

2. Specific and important character of its 
predictions, 

3. Colloquial style adopted in latter part of 
book. 

4. Emphasis given to spiritual worship in 
contrast with mere formal display. 

5. The calm confidence of the prophet, in 
the presence of gross immorality and flagrant 
injustice, judgment upon which he announced, 
that the future would disclose a time of right- 
eousness and peace for God's people. 

CHAPTER I. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The fact that Micah was contemporary 
with Isaiah and Hosea, as a comparison of the 
introductory verses of these books will show. 

2. That Micah's vision was concerning both 
Samaria and Jerusalem. 

3. The similarity of the introductory verses 
of Xahum to Mic. i. 3, 4. 

4. The graphic manner in which the prophet 
describes his feeling when he sees that the 



68 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

suffering is not to be confined to the North, 
but will reach Jerusalem also. 

5. The presence of the well known expres- 
sion, " Tell it not in Gath." 

CHAPTER II. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The denunciation, in v. 1, of the principle 
that " might makes right." 

2. The use of the word devise in v. 3 by God. 
following the use of it in a different sense in 
v. 1. 

3. The correspondence between the sin and 
the punishment, vs. 4, 5. 

4. The emphasis in vs. 7-10 of the fact that 
evil is occasioned by wrong doing. (This is in 
answer to the charge of the false prophets, v. 
6. Cf. also v. 11. 

5. The bright passage in vs. 12, 13, in con- 
trast with the preceding Declaration of coming 
disaster which occasioned the charge against 
Micah by the false prophets. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The prominence given in the chapter to 
rulers, priests, prophets and judges as the lead- 
ers in evil doing. 

2. The force of the figure (cannibalism) of 
oppression in vs. 2, 3. 

3. The emphasis of the fact that sinners shall 



MICAH. 69 

be punished according to their sins, v. 4, and 
that gifts perverted shall be withdrawn, vs. 

5-7- 

4. The declaration by Micah, v. 3 of his 

mission under God to tell the truth in opposi- 
tion to the false prophets. 

5. The presence of the passage, v. 12 which 
figured in a very important connection after- 
ward in the life of Jeremiah. Vid. Jer. xxvi. 18. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The presence of a passage, vs. 1-3 which 
is found almost word for word in Isa. ii. 2-4, 
with indications that this is a fuller passage 
than the one in Isaiah. 

2. The generally bright, promising character 
of the chapter. 

3. The recognition that the expected glori- 
ous time shall come after a period of suffering. 

4. The mention of Babylon in v. 10. (For 
interesting discussion on this vid. Farrar's Mi- 
nor Prophets, p. 135, 136. Vid. also Shrader's 
K A. T. on this passage). 

5. The difference between God's view of 
things and the world's view in reference to his 
people, vs. 11, 12. Note frequent use of word 
Zion in this chapter. 

CHAPTER V. 

Striki?ig Facts. 

1. The presence, in v. 2ff., of the remarkable 



70 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

Messianic passage so often quoted. Cf. Jn. vii., 
Matt. ii. 

2. The presence of this passage with what 
follows it, in contrast with the statement in v. 
I that the king of Israel should be smitten on 
the cheek. 

3. The connection of this Messianic passage 
with the anticipated deliverance from Assyria, 
v. 5. 

4. The things mentioned which would be de- 
stroyed in the future time, vs. 10-15. These 
may be summed up under (a) warlike imple- 
ments, (b) idolatry. 

5. The generally hopeful character of the 
chapter. N. B. The figures dew and lion to 
characterize the future Israel. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Striking Facts: 

1 The fact that mountains and hills are ad- 
dressed in vs. I, 2. Cf. i. 2; Deut. xxxii. 1; 
Isa. i. 

2. The challenge of God to Israel to show 
cause for their present treatment of Him, vs. 3-5. 

3. The emphasis of the plain duties of honest 
living as over against formal worship even of 
the most costly type, vs. 6-8. 

4. The sin and idolatry of the times as de- 
scribed in vs. 9-16. 

5. The connection between the sin and the 
impending evil, vs. 13, 16. 



MICAH. 7J 

CHAPTER VII 

Striking Facts: 

1. The wail of the prophet (perhaps personi- 
fying the good of his age) over the very cor- 
rupt state of affairs, vs. 1-6. 

2. The striking similarity between v. 6 and 
our Lord's words on one occasion (vid. Matt. 
x. 21, 35, 36; Luke xii. 53; xxi.16). 

3. The fact that the good, in the midst of 
such distress and wickedness, manifest faith in 
God that He will after judgment save His 
people. 

4. The worldwide view which this chapter 
takes, vs. 12, 16. 

5. The remarkable tribute of praise to God 
by the prophet as one who forgives sin and 
puts it away forever, vs. 18, 19. 

Note. Verses 7-20 of this chapter are re- 
garded by some critics is one of the sweetest 
passages in all prophetic literature. 

NAMES OF THE CHAPTERS. 

I. The Gath chapter. 

II. The Bozrah chapter. 

III. The Zion (plowed) chapter. 

IV. The Babylon chapter. 

V. The Bethlehem chapter. 

VI. The Omri chapter. 

VII. The Micah chapter. * 

* The expression, "Who is a God like unto thee?" found in 
vii. 18, is a free translation of the name Micah. From this pas- 
sage the contents of the chapter may be easily recalled. 



72 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Language and style of composition. 

4. Figures of speech in Micah. 

5. Social condition in Judah in Micah's time. 

6. Moral and religious condition in Judah in 
Micah's time. 

7. Arrangement of material in Micah. 

8. Relation to the other prophets of the 
Isaianic group. 

9. Chief predictions in Micah. 

10. The Messianic element in Micah. 

11. Reference to Micah in Jeremiah. 

12. The finest passage in the book. 

13. The thought of the book in one hundred 
words. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. In looking for outline of the book note 
the expression, " Hear ye" found at or near the 
opening of three chapters. 

2. Read translation of i. 10 ff. in Farrar's 
Minor Prophets (Men of the Bible series). 

3. Study what the book presents concern- 
ing Micah and false prophets. * 

4. Connect by lines the words, rulers, heads, 
prophets, judges, priests, in c. iii. 

5. Compare carefully texts and contexts of 
Mic. iv. 1-3, and Isa. ii. 2-4. 

* False Prophets— Biblical material concerning— would be a 
good subject for investigation. 



M10AH. 73 

6. In the margin by iv. 4, place the following 
references: 1 K. iv. 25; 2 K. xviii. 31. 

7. Be careful to study each passage in Micah 
in relation to its context. 

8. Read Psalm xviii in connection with a 
study of Micah i. 3, 4. 

9. Correct text as suggested by the American 
Revisers in Appendix to O. T. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. What king's name is omitted from Micah 
i. i, which appears in Isa. i. 1, and Hosea i. 1? 

2. How were Jerusalem and Samaria related 
politically? 

3. In what other place in the Bible may be 
found the words: " Tell it not in Gatk"f 

4. What is the relation of iii. 12 to what fol- 
lows? 

5. What is meant by Zion in iii. 12, and by 
daughter of Zion in c. iv? 

6. What is the relation of the Bethlehem 
prophecy, (v. 2-4) to that immediately follow- 
ing concerning the Assyrian? 

7. What is the relation of v. 7-9, to v. 10-15? 

8. Who was Omri, and why is his name used 
in vi. 16? 

9. What is the propriety in referring to As- 
syria and Egypt, Bashan and Gilead, in chapter 
vii. 12-14? 

10. What attribute of God is prominently 
presented in chapter vii? 



74 THE M1N0K PKOPHETS. 



NAHUM. 

Striking Features: 

1. The fact that it relates wholly to the de- 
struction of Nineveh. 

2. The very graphic character of the style. 
"In grandeur of style, in condensed energy, 

in elevation of sentiment and rapid transitions, 
and in certain completeness of narration, Na- 
hum stands, if not the very first, yet near the 
very first, of the Hebrew prophets." 

3. The minuteness of the descriptions. 

4. The absence of any ray of hope for the 
city Nineveh, together with the completeness 
of the destruction described which was to be 
hailed with joy by all nations. 

5. The lack of the positive spiritual element 
which is to be found in such books as Hosea, 
Micah, and Isaiah. 



chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

1. The fact that the prophet declares con- 
cerning the destruction of a foreign capital. 

2. The sublimity of the style and language 
in vs. 2-8. 

3. The difficulty in determining at times 



NAHUM. 



75 



whether Judah or Nineveh is addressed, vs. 9' 
11, 12, 13. 

4. The prophet's familiarity with and pres- 
ence in Palestine as indicated in vs. 4, 5, 13, 15. 

5. The language of 15a which is strikingly 
similar to that in Isa. lii. 7. 

CHAPTER II. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The very graphic description of the siege, 
capture and sack of the city Nineveh 

2. The irony in vs. 1 1, 12, with the forcible 
figure employed. 

3. The connection between the destruction of 
Nineveh and the expression in v. 13: " Behold 
I am against thee." 

4. The harmony between the free actions of 
men and the action of God. 

5. The high and florid diction of the chap- 
ter in general. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The return of the prophet from a descrip- 
tion of future judgment to an arraignment of 
Nineveh as oppressor and corruptor. 

2. The exceptionally graphic description in 
vs. 2, 3. 

3. The description of the wickedness of 
Nineveh, esp. v. 4. This is assigned as the 
cause of her overthrow, vs. 4, 5. 



76 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

4. The citation of Thebes of Egypt as de- 
stroyed, vs. 8-10, and the suggested importance 
of acquaintance with history in order to under- 
stand the Bible to the fullest extent. 

5. The completeness and irremediableness of 
the destruction, together with the evidence of 
joy on the part of all nations at the fate of 
Nineveh. 

N. B. There is not a word of sympathy for 
Nineveh found in the prophecy. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The Good Tidings chapter. 

II. The Den of Lions chapter. 

III. The No-Amon (Thebes) chapter. 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Striking features of the book. 

2. Theme and outline. 

3. Language and style of composition. 

4. Date of the prophecy. 

5. Teaching of Nahum in brief. 

6. Character of Assyrians whose capital was 
Nineveh. 

7. The city Nineveh. 

8. The city No-Amon, or Thebes, ch. iii. 8. 

9. The Assyrians in the seventh and eighth 
centuries B. C. 

10. Kings of Assyria from 745 B. C, to de- 
struction of Nineveh. 

11. Character of God as presented by Nahum. 

12. Compare prophecies of Nahum and Jo- 
nah. 



NAHUM. 77 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Underscore with double lines and connect 
by double lines vs. 7, 15, ch. i. 

2. On the margin by i. 2 write, Cf. Jon. iv. 2. 

3. Above the heading of the book (i. e. above 
the name Nahum) write the word consolation, 
and just below it write the word annihilation. 
Connect the words cojisolation and Jtidah, i. 15; 
also annihilation and Nineveh, i. 1. Look up 
the meaning of the word Nahum. 

4. Connect "uncovered" ii. 7, and "discover" 
iii, 5- 

5. Connect "den of lions" ii. II, and "harlot" 
iii, 4. 

6. Connect " Who will bemoan her?" iii. 7, and 
"All that bear the bruit of thee shall clap the haiids 
over thee" iii. 19. 

7. Note the marginal readings in passages 
where the meaning does not at once appear. 

8. Correct the text as suggested by the 
American Revisers in Appendix to Old Testa- 
ment. 

9. Just after the last verse of the prophecy 
write: Read here ZepJi. ii. 13-15 , and Ezek. xxxi. 

10. Read all you can of the history of Nine- 
veh and the Assyrians. 

11. Make yourself familiar with the history 
of Thebes. 

12. Compare the prophecies of Jonah and 
Nahum and seek to locate the prophets in their 
proper time relation. 



78 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. What is the meaning of the word Nahum? 

2. What books of the Bible besides Nahum 
contain the same number of chapters? 

3. In which of the other Minor Prophets is 
found v. 7 of the first chapter? Where else- 
where is found language similar to that in i.15? 

4. When did Nahum live and produce this 
prophecy? 

5. When was Nineveh destroyed? 

6. When was Thebes destroyed? 

7. Who destroyed Nineveh? 

8. Who found Nineveh in this century? Give 
brief history of excavations in Assyria. 

9. What is the great lesson of the book of 
Nahum? 

10. What is the relation of this prophecy to 
that of the book of Jonah concerning Nineveh? 




HABAKKUK. 



Striking- Features: 



'*s 



i. The beautiful style and powerful descrip- 
tion. "He is the last prophet belonging to the 
age preceding the destruction of Jerusalem who 
is master of a beautiful style, of powerful de- 
scription, and an artistic power that enlivens 
and orders everything with charming effect." 

2. The dramatic character of the book. The 
whole is a dialogue between Jehovah and the 
prophet. 

3. The emphasis given to the sin of the Chal- 
deans as a reason for their overthrow. 

4. The presence of a five-fold woe. 

5. The presence of a beautiful poem. 

chapter 1. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The lawlessness existing among the Jews 
in the prophet's time as indicated in vs. 2-4. 

2. The answer of God that the nation shall 
suffer for this, v. 5-ff. 

3. The mention by name and graphic des:rip- 
tion of the invading nation, vs. 6-1 1. 

4. The difficulty in the prophet's mind at see- 
ing the wicked Chaldeans prosper. This should 



80 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

be noted in connection with his outcry, vs. 2-4, 
against the wicked in his own land. 

5. The craft, cruelty and pride of the Chal- 
deans as here presented. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The effort on the part of the prophet to 
know God's will. 

2. The direction of the prophet to write the 
vision making it plain. 

3. The presence of the expression, "that he 
may run thai readeth it" so often misquoted, 
and usually misunderstood. 

4. The contrast between the patient waiting 
for the fulfillment of God's word on the part ot 
those trusting Him, and the proud unbelief 
and avarice of the rejecter of God's truth. 

5. The fivefold woe of the chapter, the ref- 
erence in the whole being probably to the 
Chaldeans headed by Belshazzar. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The presence of the word "Selah"* (three 
times). 

* Selah is found only here outside of the book of Psalms, where 
it occurs seventy times. It is probably a musical term, the mean- 
ing of which is not known. It may indicate where pauses were 
made in the singing for interludes by musical instruments. It 
should be omitted in public reading. 



HABAKKUK. 81 

2. The ascription in this chapter to the chief 
musician (see close of the chapter), together 
with the statement of v. i. This appears to be 
in imitation of the Psalms. 

3. The highly poetic character of the chap- 
ter. "The grandest circumstances are selected: 
the diction is as splendid as the subject." 

4. The historical allusions in the chapter, vs. 
3-15, showing that the prophet is describing the 
wonderful history of God's dealings with his 
people in bringing them into Canaan. 

5. The mingling of trembling and triumph in 
the prophet in his contemplation of God's deal- 
ing with his people and nations, see especially 
vs. 16-19. 



NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 



I. The Chaldean chapter. 

II. The Woe chapter. 

III. The Selah chapter. 



TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Theme and outline. 

2. Language and style. 

3. The enemy of Judah as described in Hab. 

4. The woes of Habakkuk. 

5. The political situation as learned from 
the book. 

6. The religious situation as learned from the 
book. 



82 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

7. Date of the prophecy. 

8. The thought of the book in briefest form. 

9. God in the book of Habakkuk. 

10. "The prayer" of Habakkuk the prophet. 

11. "Selah" in the book of Habakkuk and 
elsewhere. 

12. "The Vision" in the book. 

13. Figures of speech in Habakkuk. 

14. Hebrew poetry — distinguishing features. 

15. Habakkuk quoted in the New Testament. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Connect the word Chaldeans, i. 6, with all 
the pronouns on the page'which clearly refer 
to these enemies of God's people. 

2. Connect the woes of chapter ii. 

3. Make yourself familiar with the history of 
the Chaldeans (Babylonians). 

4. In connection with ii. 18-20, read Isaiah 
xl. 12, 26, and xliv. 9-20. 

5. Connect though, iii. 17, and yet, iii. 18. 

6. Read any article on Hebrew poetry to 
which you may have access. 

7. Compare Hab. iii. 10-15, and Ps. lxxvii. 
16-19. 

8. Compare the opening and closing of this 
prophecy. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. What is the meaning of the name Habak- 
kuk? 



HABAKKUK. 83 

2. What do we know about the prophet? 

3. Concerning what foreign nation does he 
prophesy? 

4. Recite from memory vs. 2 and 3, of ch. ii. 

5. Where in the New Testament is the proph- 
ecy quoted? 

6. Name in order the themes of the five 
woes. 

7. What is the relation of ii. 14 to its context? 

8. What is the propriety in calling the last 
chapter " A prayer?" 

9. What allusions to Israel's history appear 
in ch. iii.? 

10. What indications are there that the 
prophet's own views were modified by the mes- 
sage which he received? 



84 THE MINOR PROPHETS 



ZEPHANIAH. 

Striking Features: 

i. The prominence given to the day of the 
Lord. 

2. The contrast, as in so many of the other 
books, between the existing corruption and the 
future glory and purity of God's people. 

3. The condensation of so much prophetic 
material into such small space. u If any one 
wishes all the secret oracles of the prophets to 
be given in a brief compendium, let him read 
through this brief Zephaniah." 



chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

1. The specification made in i. 1 concerning 
the prophet and his time. (Contrast with this 
the utter lack of knowledge of this character 
concerning Nahum, Habakkuk, etc.) 

2. The dark picture of idolatry given by the 
prophet together with the announcement of 
judgment in language resembling that of Jere- 
miah. Cf. Zeph. i. 2, 3, and Jer. iv. 23-26. 

3. The frequent use of the word day in this 
chapter referring to a future time of judgment. 



ZEPHANIAH. 85 

4. The disregard of God's warnings by men 
as manifested by the saying that the Lord will 
not do good neither will He do evil, v. 12. 

5. The emphasis of the fact that evil is an- 
nounced as coming on account of sin. 

CHAPTER II. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The urgent call of the prophet to his peo- 
ple to anticipate the day of the Lord and es- 
cape the evil to come by repenting of their sin, 
vs. 1-3. 

2. The mention in the chapter of five differ- 
ent nations (prominent as enemies of Israel) 
that should be engulfed in the coming destruc- 
tion. 

3. Mention of Sodom and Gomorrah in an- 
nouncement of doom of Moab and Ammon. 

4. Mention twice of the remnant of Israel as 
inheritors of the heathen's possessions. 

5. The graphic picture of Nineveh laid waste, 
vs. 13-15. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The charge against princes, judges, proph- 
ets and priests in vs. 3, 4. 

2. The emphasis of the absence of injustice 
on the part of God, v. 5, in contrast with man's 
wrong doing. 

3. God's hope that his own people would take 



86 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

warning from his judgments on other nations 
is disappointed, and He determines to send 
greater calamity. 

4. The assurance that a remnant should be 
found that would be preserved. 

5. The bright future of Israel that is por- 
trayed. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The Day of the Lord chapter. 

II. The Nineveh chapter. 

III. The Remnant chapter 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Outline. 

2. Date. 

3. Author. 

4. Language and style. 

5. "The day of the Lord" in Zephaniah. 

6. "The Remnant" in Zephaniah. 

7. The Messianic element in Zephaniah. 

8. God in the book of Zephaniah. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Compare the opening and close of the 
book. 

2. By chart make plain relation of Zephaniah 
to Jeremiah. 

3. Underscore the word day in the book and 
connect by lines. 



ZEPHANIAH. 



87 



4. Connect Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopi- 
ans, Assyria, in ch. ii. 

5. Connect princes, judges, prophets, priests, in 
ch. iii. 3, 4. 

6. Read the prophecy of Nahum in connec- 
tion with ii. 13-15. 

7. Compare Joel and Zephaniah on the ques- 
tion of "the day of the Lord." 

8. Read up history of Josiah and his times. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. How is Zephaniah related to Jeremiah in 
time? 

2. What other Minor Prophet graphically 
describes the day of the Lord? 

3. Cite a parallel to Zephaniah's call to re- 
pentance, ii. 3, to be found in another of the 
Minor Prophets. 

4. Name the nations mentioned in Zephaniah 
and state how they were related to Israel. 

5. Describe present condition of Nineveh. 

6. Does the word city, iii. 1, refer to Jerusalem 
or Nineveh? Give reasons for answer. 

7. What is the meaning of. iii 9, 10? 

8. Has the prophecy concerning the remnant, 
ch. iii., been yet fulfilled? 

9. What is a summary of the teaching of the 
book concerning God? 

10. To what does the word captivity, iii. 20, 
refer? 



88 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



HAGGAI. 

Striki?ig Features: 

i. The recurrence of the expression, "The 
Lord of Hosts" 

2. The prophecy, consisting of four different 
messages arranged chronologically, belongs to 
the last four months of the same year (Septem- 
ber-December, 520 B. C. 

3. The occasion of the prophecy (the build- 
ing of the house of the Lord), and the success 
attending the prophetic message. 

4. The absence of "the imagination and po- 
etical power possessed by most of the proph- 
ets." 

CHAPTER I. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The specification of the time of the proph- 
ecy with reference to a foreign king's reign. 

2. The opinion of the people regarding the 
buildings of God's house, in contrast with 
God's idea concerning it. 

3. The striking emphasis in vs. 6-1 1 of the 
connection between neglect of God's house 
and disaster. Note especially Why? v. 9, and 
Therefore, v. 10. 



HAGGAI. 89 

4. The prompt response of the rulers and 
people to the prophet's call, v. 12, and the re- 
sulting blessing of God, v. 13. 

5. The change of feeling of the people and 
their activity in rebuilding God's house ascribed 
to the Lord, v. 14. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The message found in vs. 1-9 came to the 
prophet in the month succeeding the time of 
his delivery of the one recorded in ch. i. 

2. The occasion, v. 3, of the thrice repeated 
expression, "be stro?ig" v. 4, with the reason 
given, vs. 4-9. 

3. The two messages found in vs. 10-23 came 
from the Lord to the prophet at different times 
on the same day, three days after the message 
recorded in vs. 1-9; 10-20. 

4. The colloquial style of v. 12 ff., together 
with the re-emphasis of the connection (clearly 
stated in ch. i.) between suffering and neglect 
of God's house, vs. 15-19. 

5. The evident Messianic character of the 
chapter in its reference twice to the shaking of 
the heavens and earth; in its mention of the 
latter glory of the house; and in its address, v. 
23, to Zerubbabel, evidently in his official and 
typical character. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The September chapter. 

II. The October-December chapter. 



90 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Outline. 

2. Date. 

3. Purpose. 

4. Darius (Hystaspes) the king. 

5. Zerubbabel. 

6. Joshua the High Priest. 

7. The first (Solomon's) temple. 

8. The second (Zerubbabel's) temple. 

9. The third (Herod's) temple. 

10. The Messianic element in Haggai. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. In the blank space after the word Haggai 
in your Bible write, Zechariah, Malachi, and 
underneath write, Postexilic prophets. 

2. Underscore the expression, "the Lord of 
Hosts" in the book and connect by lines. 

3. In the margin by i. 1 write, September, 520 
B. C, and connect with sixth month. In the 
margin by ii. I write, October, 520 B. C, and con- 
nect with "seventh mo?ith." In the margin by ii. 
10 write, December, 520 B. C, and connect with 
it, "ninth month," and "month" ii. 20. 

4. Read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in 
connection with a study of Haggai. 

5. By charts seek a clear idea of the relation 
of Haggai to Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, etc. 

6. Study Haggai in connection with the first 
part of Zechariah 

QUESTIONS. 

f. To what year do the prophecies of Haggai 

belong? 



HAGGAI. 91 

2. Name the postexilic prophets. 
5. What was the occasion of Haggai's proph- 
ecy? 

4. Who was governor of Jerusalem in Hag- 
gai's time? 

5. Name some striking features of the book. 

6. Give in order the substance of Haggai's 
four prophecies. 

7. How long were the people in responding 
to Haggai's first message? Cf. i. 1, 15. 

8. Interpret ii. 7. 

9. How long before had the foundation of 
the temple been laid? Cf. ii. 18. 

10. What is the force of the figure found in 
ii. 23? 



92 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



ZECHARIAH. 

Striking Features: 

i. Frequent occurrence of the expression, 
"The Lord of Hosts." 

2. The striking difference in style between 
chapters i.-viii., and ix.-xiv., leading many to 
conclude that the book is the product of at 
least two authors. 

3. The series of visions beginning i. 7, and 
ending vi. 8. Each vision is explained to the 
prophet by an angel. 

4. The allegorical and dramatic character of 
the book. 

5. Prophecies concerning the Messiah. 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

*i. That the message came to Zechariah in 
the same year in which Haggai received his 
communications, and that the month mentioned 
here, Zech. i. 1, is the one (November) omitted 
in Haggai. Cf. Hag. i. 1; ii. 1, 10; and Zech. i. I. 
2. The reference to the message of the for- 
mer prophets and the people advised to learn 
a lesson from God's dealings with their rebel- 
lious fathers. 



ZECHARIAH. 93 

3. The vision of the angels and horses among 
the myrtle trees, in the eleventh month. (Feb- 
ruary succeeding December of Hag. ii. 10.) 

4. The interest which the angel of the Lord 
is represented as manifesting in the welfare of 
Jerusalem, v. 12. 

5. The assurance given the prophet by the 
Lord through the angel that Jerusalem and the 
temple should be rebuilt, v. 16, and the empha- 
sis of this on the mind of the prophet by the 
vision of the horns and smiths, vs. 18-21. 

CHAPTER 11. 
Striking Facts: 

1. That the prophet first addressed the man 
with the measuring line, v. 1. 

2. That the angels are represented as con- 
versing with each other, v. 3. 

3. The communication that Jerusalem would 
not need walls because Jehovah Himself would 
be a wall, v. 5. 

4. The presence of the expression, "He that 
toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye." 

5. The prophecy, in connection with the an- 
nouncement that Jehovah would dwell in Zion, 
that many nations would then join themselves 
to the Lord. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

I. The mention of Satan; his position and 
purpose. 



94 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

2. The filthy garments (representing sin), 
v. 4, of the High Priest removed, and other rich 
apparel given him, vs. 3-5. 

3. Doing right mentioned as the condition of 
the High Priest retaining his place, v. 7. 

4. The mention of "the Branch" v. 8. 

5. The care which Jehovah will exercise over 
his land and Temple and the accompanying 
felicity of the people, vs. 9, 10. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Striking Facts: 

1. That the prophet should need to be 
aroused as from sleep by the angel, v. I. Cf. 
Dan. viii. 18, 27. 

2. The resemblance of the candlestick seen 
to that which originally stood in the Taber- 
nacle. 

3. The presence of the verse, " Not by might, 
nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord 
of Hosts," the setting of which is as little 
known as the verse itself is well known. 

4. The apparent surprise of the angel at the 
ignorance of the prophet, vs. 5, 13. 

5. The assurance that the mountains of diffi- 
culty would be removed, and that Zerubbabel, 
who began the building of the temple, would 
finish it, (see especially vs. 7-9). 

chapter v. 
Striking Facts: 

1. The fact that the strange flying roll was 
open. 



ZEOHARIAil. 95 

2. The mention of its apparent dimensions 
by the prophet. 

3. The probable reference to both tables of 
the law as written on this roll, in the mention 
of violation of two commandments (the eighth 
aud the third), one from each table. 

4. The strange vision of a woman (personify- 
ing wickedness) sitting in a measure into which 
she is crowded down and covered by the angel. 

5. The removal of this measure with its con- 
tents through the air to Shinar by two women 
with stork-like wings. The truth conveyed by 
this imagery was that wickedness was to be 
borne swiftly from the land. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The strangeness of the vision of four 
chariots each drawn by a pair of horses coming 
out from between two mountains of brass. 
These appear to symbolize mighty agencies to 
execute God's purposes, v. 5. 

2. The specification of the different colors of 
the horses by the prophet, though there does 
not appear to be any special significance at- 
tached to the horses. But note: 

3. The passing by of the red horses and 
mention of the black horses as going to the 
North accompanied by the white ones. 

4. The symbolic action — making and placing 
a crown on Joshua the High priest, and in 



96 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

connection with this act uttering the striking 
Messianic prophecy found in vs. 12, 13. 

a. He is called the Branch. 

b. He is spoken of in an emphatic manner 
(the expression being used twice) as the build- 
er of the Temple of the Lord. 

c. He is spoken of as occupying the offices 
of both priest and king. 

5. The crown to be hung up in the temple as 
a pledge of the fulfillment of the prediction, 
and the faithful assured of a share in the glory 
to come. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The specification concerning the time of 
the reception of the message. N. B. This was 
two years after the date of Haggai's prophecy, 
and Zech. i.-vi. 

2. The question raised about fasting, v. 3, by 
a deputation from Bethel, and the extent of 
the answer. The answer extends through ch. 
viii. 

3. The mention of the former prophets twice 
in the chapter. Cf. i. 4. 

4. The re-emphasis of true living, vs. 9, 10, 
as over against mere formal fasting. This the 
former prophets had urged. 

5. The explanation of evil on forefathers 
that they had not heeded their prophets, v. 12. 



ZECHARIAH. 97 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Striking Facts: 

i. The spirit of promise and encouragement 
pervading the chapter. All is bright for Jeru- 
salem and Jews. 

2. The emphasis of the presence of God in 
Jerusalem, v. 3, who will gather and protect 
and prosper his people so that all will want to 
be friends to the Jews. (See especially vs. 20-23.) 

3. The presence of the verse, "The streets of 
the city shall be full of boys and girls playing 
in the streets thereof." 

4. Encouragement to the rulers and people 
to prosecute to completion the temple build- 
ing. N. B. " Let your hands be strong," vs. 9, 13. 

5. The change of mind on the Lord's part, 
vs. 14, 15; his emphasis of right doing as over 
against formal fasting, which will result in the 
fasts becoming feasts. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Striking Facts : 

1. The announcement of God's judgment up- 
on (1) the Syrians in the Northeast, (2) the 
Phoenicians in the Northwest, and the Philis- 
tines in the Southwest. Note in reference to 
this: 

a. The mention of Hadrach,*v. 1, found only 
here in the Old Testament. The perplexity 
which long existed concerning this word has 
been removed by an Assyrian inscription which 
mentions Hadrach as a city near Damascus. 



98 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

b. The mention of the four cities of Philistia 
which are referred to in Zeph. ii. 4. 

c. The history of the destruction of Tyre by 
Alexander, and the expression, v. 4, "She shall 
be devoured with fire." 

d. The mention of a remnant of Philistines, 

2. The protection vouchsafed God's own 
dwelling, v. 8, in contrast to the judgment an- 
nounced on his enemies in the preceding 
verses. 

3. The definite and remarkable Messianic 
passage in vs. 9, 10. Note in reference to this: 

a. The character of the coming king. 

b. His methods — they were to be peaceful. 
Cf. Isa. ix. 4-6. 

c. The reference to both North (Ephraim) 
and South (Jerusalem). 

d. The extent of the Kingdom. 

4. The contrast between /zV, v, 11, and stro?ig- 
hold, v. 13, in God's announcement of faithful- 
ness to his covenant with his people to deliver 
and prosper them. 

5. The imagery in v. 13 ff., in contrast with 
that above. The chariot, and horse and battle 
bow are to be dispensed with, v. 10, and yet Ju- 
dah is to be bow, and Ephraim arrow, and all 
a sword, against Greece, v. 13. What is the 
interpretation of these verses with 14-16 also? 

chapter x. 
Striking Facts : 

I. The prominence, in the chapter as a whole. 



ZECHARIAH. 



99 



of the Lord as actor. Read the chapter with 
this thought in mind. Note "in the Lord" and 
4i in his name!' 

2. The evident close connection between this 
chapter and the preceding one. Note the con- 
tinued description of prosperity. The fact is, 
ch. ix-xi. constitute one continuous prophecy 
of which Christ on earth is the central figure. 

3. The mixture of figures in vs. 3-5. 

4. The distinction between Judah, (Cf. v. 3, 
"".his flock the house of Judah,") and Ephraim, 
v. 7, ("house of Joseph," v. 6), together with the 
extent and degree of blessing promised in vs. 
7-12. 

5. The mention of Egypt and Assyria (twice) 
in connection w T ith the restoration, v. 10, and 
multiplication, vs. 8, 10, of the people, together 
with the graphic description, v. 11, of God re- 
moving obstructions to the fulfillment of his 
promise. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The poetic manner in which the complete 
desolation of the land of Palestine is described 
in vs. 1-3. 

2. The two commands to the prophet: 

a. To impersonate a good shepherd, v. 4. 

b. To impersonate a foolish shepherd, v. 15. 

3. The account given of the prophet's obedi- 
ence to the command to feee 1 the flock and the 
result, vs. 7-14. Respecting this, note: 



100 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

a. The selection of two staves instead of one 
as would naturally be expected. 

b. The names of the staves. Cf. Bands and 
brotherhood, v. 14. 

c. The mutual antipathy arising between the 
Shepherd and the flock, v. 8. 

d. His refusal to feed them, and abandon- 
ment of them, v. 9. 

e. Mention of the recognition of his true 
character by some, v. 10. 

f. His request for his hire and the paltry sum 
given. 

g. His contemptuous disposal of it at the 
command of the Lord. 

h. His cutting asunder the two staves and 
the fact symbolized, vs. 10, 14. 

4. The presence of the passage about the 
potter and the thirty pieces of silver to which 
reference is made in Matt. xvii. 5-10. 

5. The heartlessness and violence of the 
worthless shepherd described, and his punish- 
ment announced. 

Remark: Probably the most striking feature 
of all respecting this chapter for most students 
will be the difficulty in understanding it. Study 
it and look for light. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The introduction of a new section as indi- 
cated by the expression, "The burden of the 
word of the Lord." Cf. ix. 1. 



ZECHARIALI. 101 

2. The appeal to the creative power of Jeho- 
vah, v. i, as preliminary to the assertions about 
to be made. 

3. The striking figures used in vs. 2, 3, to in- 
dicate that those who would injure Jerusalem 
should suffer in consequence, — " cup of reel- 
ing," ''burdensome stone." 

4. The utter destruction of the enemies of 
God's people declared. Note the frequent use 
of the expression, "all the peoples," or its 
equivalent. 

5. The promise of an abundant effusion of 
blessing upon the Jews in the well known 
words, "I will pour out * * * the spirit of 
grace and supplication," to be followed by a 
recognition of their sin of rejecting their Lord 
and a widespread and deep mourning. For al- 
lusion in v. 11, Cf. 2 Kings, xxiii. 29; 2 Chron. 

XXXV. 22. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Striking Fads: 

1. The presence of the verse, " In that day- 
there shall be a fountain opened * * * for sin 
and for uncleanness." 

2. The zeal to be manifested against idolatry 
and false prophets, vs. 3-6. 

3. The striking apostrophe to the sword, v. 7, 
Cf. Jer. xlvii. 6. 

4. The expression used by our Lord, Matt, 
xxvi. 31, 36, u Smite the shepherd and the sheep 
shall be scattered." 

5. The purifying of the nation and salvation 
of a remnant, vs. 8, 9. 



102 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

CHAPTER XIV' 

Striking Facts'. 

1. The announcement of a terrible siege to 
befall Jerusalem, vs. i, 2. 

2. The appearance of the Lord with his holy 
ones for the deliverance of his people. 

3. The reference, v. 5, to the earthquake in 
Uzziah's time. Cf. Amos i. 1. Note the differ- 
ence in time between Amos and Zechariah. 

4. The exaltation, enlargement, and pros- 
perity of Jerusalem, and the recognition of Je- 
hovah as its occupant and protector who will 
demand homage of the whole earth. 

5. The complete consecration of all things 
and persons in the city. 

Remark: This chapter with many other 
parts of Zechariah, is difficult to understand. It 
should be carefully read and its statements 
should be noted, and the mind should be kept 
open for light. The passage by some is re- 
garded as figurative; by others as literal and 
referring to the second coming of Christ and 
the millennial glory to follow. 

NAMES OF CHAPTERS. 

I. The myrtle trees chapter. 

II. The surveyor chapter. 

III. The Joshua chapter. 

IV. The candlestick chapter. 

V. The flying (roll and women) chapter. 

VI. The chariot chapter. 

VII. The fasting chapter. 



ZECHARIAH. 103 

VIII. The feasting chapter. 

IX. The King of Zion chapter. 

X. The house of Joseph chapter. 

XI. The Shepherd chapter. 

XII. The Hadadrimmon chapter. 

XIII. The fountain chapter. 

XIV. The New Jerusalem chapter. 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Distinguishing features of the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Authorship — question stated. 

4. Arguments in favor of unity of authorship. 

5. Arguments against unity of authorship. 

6. Language and style of chapters i.-viii. 

7. Language and style of chapters ix.-xiv. 

8. Vision of the angels and the myrtle trees 

9. Vision of the horses and smiths. 

10. Vision of the surveyor. 

11. Vision of the high priest. 

12. Vision of the candlestick. 

13. Vision of the flying roll. 

14. Vision of the woman in the ephah. 

15. Vision of the four chariots. 

16. Symbolic act with significance. 

17. Question concerning fasting and the 
prophet's disposal of it. 

18. "The Lord of Hosts" in Zechariah. 

19. The Messianic element in Zechariah. 

20. The rejected shepherd in Zechariah. 

21. "The house of Judah " and "the house 
of Joseph " — their relation in Zechariah. 



104 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

22. "The inhabitants of Jerusalem " and "Ju- 
dah" — their relation in chapter xii. 

23. Quote five choice passages from the book 
giving chapter and verse. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Connect expressions as follows: 

a. " The Lord of Hosts " throughout the book. 

b. "Myrtle trees" i. 8; "horns" i. 18, and 
"smiths" i. 20; "A man with a measuring line" 
(Surveyor, ii. 1); "Joshua the High Priest" iii. 
1; "Candlestick" iv. 2; "Flying roll" v. 1; 
"Woman in ephah," v. 8; "Two women'' v. 9; 
" Four chariots," V\. 1. 

c. " My servant the Branch" iii. 8; "Whose name 
is the Branch" vi. 12; -&vi<\" Priest upon his throne" 
vi. 13. 

d. The word "seven" in iii. 9, with the same 
word found three times in ch. iv. 

e. The words, "red" "black" "white," "bay," 
in vi. 2, 3. 

/ " The former prophets" vii. 7, 12, with i. 4. 
g. ix. 1, and xii. 1. 

h. "hi that day" chaps, xii., xiii, xiv. 
i. " Worship the King" xiv, 16, 17. 
j. "Holy unto the Lord" xiv. 20, 21. 

2. Above the word eighth, i. 1, write Novem- 
ber, and from it draw a line to the margin 
between Hag. ii. 9, 10, and place an arrowpoint 
on the end. Note the months in which Haggai 
received his messages. 

3. In the margin by i. 7, write February. 

4. By chart seek a clear understanding of the 



ZECHARIAH. 



105 



times of Haggai and Zechariah and their rela- 
tion to each other. 

5. Put into your own language an account of 
each of the visions recorded in chaps, i.-vi. 
Seek thus to place before the mind a vivid, 
clear picture of each vision. 

6. Study chaps, vii. and viii. together as con- 
stituting a continuous account relating to the 
fasts. 

7. Note the division of the last six chapters 
into two parts by the expressions, " The bnrde?i 
of the zvord of the Lotd!' 

8. Read any of the commentaries for sug- 
gestions on obscure passages, but be on guard 
against accepting every statement which may 
be made about interpretation. The Cambridge 
Bible w 7 ill furnish a good condensed' commen- 
tary and statement of contents. 

QUESTIONS. 

1. With what prophet was Zechariah associ- 
ated? 

2. What other Minor Prophetic book con- 
tains the same number of chapters? Which 
contains half the number? 

3. Name the visions of Zechariah in order 
and give account of each. 

4. What is the relation in time, etc., of the 
Darius of Zechariah and the Darius of Daniel? 

5. Give account and significance of Zechari- 
ah's symbolic act in making the crown? 

6. Who inquired concerning fasts and what 
answer was given? 



106 



THE MINOR PROPHETS. 



7. Against what nations does Zechariah 
speak particularly in his announcement of judg- 
ment? 

8. Give account of the shepherd rejected. 

9. To what mourning is allusion made in xii. 
11? 

10. Give an account of the New Jerusalem as 
described by Zechariah. 




MALACHI. 

Strikijig Features: 

1. The recurrence of the expression, " The 
Lord of Hosts" 

2. The conversational, direct, pointed style. 
"He adopts a novel literary form." "In place 
of the rhetorical development of a subject 
usual with the earlier prophets, there appears 
in Malachi a dialectic treatment by means of 
question and answer." 

3. The interest evinced in ritual observances, 
and the grave light in which ritual laxity is 
viewed. The emphasis of the ritual was not 
characteristic of the prophets. The singularity 
of Malachi in this respect is noteworthy. What 
is the explanation? 

4. It is the last book of the Old Testament 
and ends with the word curse. 

chapter 1. 
Striking Facts: 

1. The expression, " The burden of the word of 
the Lord" which on examination is discovered 
to be peculiar to Malachi and Zechariah ix. 1, 
and xii. I. 

2. The wonder that the Jews of Malachi's age 



108 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

should have the effrontery to say "Wherein 
hast thou loved us?" v. 2. 

3. The presentation of the contrast between 
God's treatment of Jacob and Esau in answer 
to the question above. 

4. The profanity of the priests in their man- 
agement of the service of the temple in offer- 
ing polluted and blemished sacrifices to God. 

5. The reference (three times) to the great- 
ness of God's name among the Gentiles and 
their regard for Him in contrast with that ac- 
corded by his own. 

CHAPTER 11. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The apparent special effort on the part of 
the prophet to impress the priests. Note, "This 
commandment is for you," v. 1; see also v. 4. 

2. The wicked conduct of the priests con- 
trasted with the upright life and excellent ser- 
vice rendered by Levi, vs. 5-8. The result for 
the transgressors. 

3. The prophet's identification of himself 
with the people, v. 10. 

4. The injunction against foreign alliances 
and divorcing of wives. 

5. The repetition of the warning to take heed, 
vs. 15, 16. 

CHAPTER III. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The emphasis, in answer to the objection 



MALACHI. 109 

of ii. 17, of the speedy and thorough judgment 
of God which will be visited. 

2. The delay of judgment and its character 
due to a very different cause (viz., God's un- 
changeable character and faithfulness to his 
covenant, v. 6) from that which had been al- 
leged, ii. 17. 

3. The penuriousness of the worshipers of 
Malachi's time, and the consequent withhold- 
ing of prosperity on God's part. 

4. The challenge of God to the people to 
test Him, v. 10. 

5. The wicked and impatient murmur of the 
people that there was no profit in doing right; 
that the proud and wicked workers were happy, 
v. 15, together with the answer given in the ac- 
tion of the righteous, v. 16, and the testimony 
of God concerning them, v. 17. The time is 
coming w r hen the difference will be clearly dis- 
cerned and it will be proved that it is no loss 
to do right, v. 18. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Striking Facts: 

1. The proud and wicked workers instead of 
being built up and escaping, (see iii. 14, 15,) 
would in fact be destroyed completely. 

2. In contrast with the fate of these, the 
fearers of God's name are to be happy and 
prosper. 

3. The figures: ''Sun of righteousness with 



110 ♦ THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

healing in his wings," and " Gambol as calves 
of the stall/' 

4. The reference to Moses the lawgiver, and 
Elijah the prophet. 

5. The warning to remember the law lest dis- 
aster should come. This suggests the close of 
the last book of the New Testament where a 
warning is given not to add to nor to take 
from the word of the prophecy. 

Remark. The Old Testament ends with the 
promise of the coming of Elijah; the New Test- 
ament with the promise of the speedy advent 
of Jesus. 

NAMES OF THE CHAPTERS. 

I. The profane offering chapter. 
IL The divorce chapter. 

III. The tithe and book of remembrance 
chapter. 

IV. The Sun of righteousness chapter, 

TOPICS FOR STUDY. 

1. Distinguishing features of the book. 

2. Outline. 

3. Language and style. 

4. Date and authorship. 

5 Malachi in the Revised Version. 

6. Figures of speech in Malachi. 

7. Lessons from the book. 

8. The abuses condemned. 

9. God in the book of Malachi. 

10. The Messianic element in Malachi. 

11. Quote a select verse from the book. 



MALACHL 111 



SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Connect "wherei?i" found seven times in 
the book. 

2. Connect the expression, "For my name is 
great among the Gentiles" found three times in 
ch. i. 

3. Connect "saith the Lord," found twenty-six 
times. 

4. Connect "God of judgment" ii. 17, and 
"?iear to you to judgment " iii. 5. 

5. Connect "proud" and "work wickedness" 
iii. 15, with same as iv. 1. 

6. Connect " They that feared the Lord" iii. 16, 
with " But unto you that fear my ?iame" iv. 2. 

7. Connect "In the day that I do make" iii. 17, 
with same in iv. 3. 

8. Read the passage iii. 13-iv. 3 and note the 
balancing suggested by 5, 6, 7, above. 

9. Study the book with the purpose of dis- 
covering the condition of God s people in the 
time of the prophet and compare the result 
with the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. 



QUESTIONS. 

1. What does the name Malachi mean? 

2. State number of chapters in the book. 
What other book among the Minor Prophets 
contains the same number? 

3. What is the most distinguishing feature 
respecting the style of Malachi? 



112 THE MIJSOR PROPHETS. 

4 What evil practices are condemned by the 
prophet? 

5. State the questions in the book beginning 
with the word " Wherein." 

6. In what time did the book of Malachi most 
likely originate? Give reasons for answer. 

7. What is the most striking change made by 
the Revisers in Malachi? State reasons for 
change. 

8. What historic names appear in the book? 
Give setting of each. 

9. Whom does the New Testament identify 
as Elijah the prophet? In what connection is 
the reference made? 

10. Compare the closing verses of the Old 
Testament with the closing verses of the New 
Testament. 




MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS ON THE MINOR 
PROPHETS. 

i. Give number; names in order; chronological order; 
account for present order. 

2. Mention number of chapters in each book. 

3. Which one is the shortest? Which the longest? 
Which the oldest? Which the latest? 

4. What names cluster about Isaiah? What names clus- 
ter about Jeremiah? 

5. What prophets preceded the time of the Isaianic 
group? 

6. What prophets are called post exilic? 

7. Which one of the Minor Prophets was your favorite 
before your present study of them? 

8. Which one of the Minor Prophets is your favorite 
now? 

9. With which one of the Minor Prophets were you most 
familiar before your present study? 

10. With which one of the Minor Prophets are you most 
familiar now? 

11. Which of the Minor Prophets is most elevated and 
classic in style? 

12. Which of the Minor Prophets is most florid in style? 

13. Which of the Minor Prophets is most tender in tone? 

14. Which of the Minor Prophets is most severe in tone? 

15. Which of the Minor Prophets contains the most 
graphic passage? 

16. Which of the Minor Prophets contains the greatest 
historical element? 

17. Which of the Minor Prophets contains the greatest 
allegorical element? 

18. Which of the Minor Prophets contains the greatest 
Messianic element? 

19. Which of the Minor Prophets contains the smallest 
Messianic element? 

20. Which of the Minor Prophets have to do exclusively 
with the same foreign power? 

21. Name all the Minor Prophets which relate princi- 
pally to foreign nations. 



114 THE MINOR PROPHETS. 

22 Name the Minor Prophets who preached in the 
North country 

23. Name the Minor Prophets who preached in the 
South country. 

24. Which of the Minor Prophets contains much about 
the Chaldeans? 

25. Which of the Miaor Prophets relate to the Temple 
building? 

26. In which of the Minor Prophets is the expression: 
"Prepare to meet thy God?" 

27. In which of the Minor Prophets is the expression: 
"Tell it not in Gath?" 

■28. In which of the Minor Prophets is the expression: 
"Write the vision and make it plain — that he may run 
that readeth it?" 

29. Which one of the Minor Prophets was quoted by 
Peter on the day of Pentecost? Give quotation. 

30. Which one of the Minor Prophets was referred to 
by name by our Lord? 

31. The word " Se/ak" is found outside of the book of 
Psalms only in one of the Minor Prophets. In which is 
the word found? 

32. In which of the Minor Prophets is found the v.: 
" Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the 
Lord of Hosts? " 

33 In which of the Minor Prophets is found the word 
"Satan?" 

34. In which of the Minor Prophets is found the ex- 
pression: " Bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse?" 

35. In which of the Minor Prophets is found the ex- 
pression: " He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good?" 

36 Where is found the expression: " Salvation is of the 
Lord?" 

37. Where is found the expression: "I will heal their 
backsliding, I will love them freely?" 

38. Which of the Minor Prophets uses the expression: 
"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink?" 

39. Which of the Minor Prophets contains a beautiful 
poem? 

40. Mention the fact most prominent in your mind about 
each of the Minor prophetic books. 



Leaves from a Worker's Note 
Book. 

A Manual for Bible Training Classes. 

[ Twenty -third Edition. ] 
By David McConaughy, Jr. 

An outline series of lessons on all the books of the Bible, 
with a second part to each lesson answering difficulties of 
inquirers and Christians with Scripture passages. 

This Manual has been used with marked success in Bible 
Classes of Churches, Young Men's Christian Associations, 
Christian Endeavor Societies, etc. It is among the best 
Bible helps, of its kind, ever published. 

Convenient size for the pocket. 

Price, flexible cloth cover, 25 cents each, $2.00 per 
dozen. Leather, extra, 50 cents each, $5-00 per dozen. 
In German, Sctme price. 



Beginners' Manual for Bible 
Study. 

Or, Hints as to What the Bible is, and How to 
Use it in Personal Work. 

Compiled by J. V. Read. 

An admirable outline for Elementary Bible Study. Es- 
pecially adapted to Bible Classes of Junior Departments of 
Young Men's Christian Associations, Young People's Soci- 
eties of Christian Endeavor, and other beginning classes. 
Divided into two parts. Twenty-six progressive lessons in 
each section. 

Price, paper, each, 15 cents; per dozen, $1.00; leather, 
each, 30 cents; per dozen, $3.50. 

One copy for examination will be sent on receipt of 
8 cents in postage stamps. 

YOUNG MEN'S ERA PUBLISHING CO., 

85 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, 111. 



THE 



YOUflG p^ ERA 



THE INTERNATIONAL 

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION 

NEWSPAPER 



A JOURNAL FOR 

YOUNG MEN AND FRIENDS OF 

YOUNG MEN 



TJniPty-tuuo Pages, Published CUeekly 



SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $2 A YEAR 



SEND FOR SAMPLE COPY 



Young ] Wen ? s Era Publishing Co. 

... 85 FIFTH AVENUE . . . 
Chicago, III. 



V 



Special Notice. 



The Young Men's Era 
Publishing 
Company 

Has facilities for promptly filling orders for 

BIBLES 

BIBLE HELPS 
RELIGIOUS WORKS 

And all General Publications, at regular prices. 

n 7 a V a V 

iddress . 

Young Men's Era Publishing Co., 

85 Fifth 1 venue, Chicago, III 






a£h lP£ 




?9^ 



mtSST 

ran 

HP 

'Mm 



Swpp 

III 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS , , 

021 064 312 6 



i HBi 

■ . Hi 

m 



